UC-NRLF 


No.  6. 


BULLETIN 


UNIVERSITY   OF   KANSAS. 


HANDBOOK 


OF 


KANSAS  LIBRARIES 


19O2. 


LAWRENCE,   KANSAS. 


ENTERED  AT  THE  POST-OFFICE  AS  SECOND-CLASS   MATTES. 


GIFT  OF 


LIBRARY 
SCHOOL 


LIBRARY  OF  THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  KANSAS. 

\i 


HANDBOOK 


OF 


KANSAS  LIBRARIES 

1902. 


EDITED  BY 

CARRIE  M.  WATSON,  Librarian, 

AND 

EDITH  M.  CLARKE,  Assistant. 


LAWRENCE,  KANSAS. 
1903. 


LIBRARY 
SCHOOL 


GEO.  A.  CLAEK.  State  Printer, 

TOPEKA,  KAN, 

1903. 


The  true  University  of  these  days 
is  a  Collection  of  Books. 

Carlyle. 


3G0178 


preface* 


nPHIS  Handbook  is  a  contribution  to  the  history  of  the 
library  movement  in  Kansas,  and  purposes  to  give  an 
account  of  the  organization,  maintenance  and  administra- 
tion of  libraries  in  this  commonwealth. 

Massachusetts,  Connecticut  and  Ohio  have  already  pub- 
lished histories  of  their  libraries,  and  other  states  have 
similar  work  in  preparation. 

No  one  except  the  United  States  Commissioner  of  Edu- 
cation has  ever  attempted  to  collect  data  concerning  Kan- 
sas libraries,  and  there  was  nowhere  a  complete  list  of  the 
public  libraries  of  the  state.  The  preliminary  working  list 
for  this  report  was  formed  from  the  lists  of  Kansas  libraries 
in  the  reports  of  the  Commissioner  of  Education,  and  from 
the  lists  of  depositories  for  federal  documents  in  Kansas 
given  in  the  reports  of  the  Superintendent  of  Documents, 
with  additional  names  from  the  State  Historical  Society, 
the  Traveling  Libraries  Commission,  and  other  sources. 
Between  400  and  500  circular  letters  of  inquiry  were  sent 
out  in  December,  1902,  and  January,  1903,  to  the  public, 
society  and  college  libraries,  to  the  high  schools,  and  the 
superintendents  of  city  schools  of  the  state.  Some  an- 
swered promptly ;  others,  and  by  far  the  greater  number, 
have  not  answered  at  all.  Second  letters  were  sent  to  the 
more  important  libraries.  These  elicited  replies  from  a  few. 
Third  and  fourth  letters  were  sent  to  the  silent  majority. 
Again,  some  replied  and  others  did  not.  It  is  the  latter 

(5) 


6  preface. 


which  are  here  omitted.  In  the  case  of  several  institutions 
which  publish  catalogs  or  reports,  material  concerning  their 
libraries  was  adapted  for  insertion  in  this  report.  Only  a 
few  high  schools  replied,  and  the  material  given  by  most 
was  so  meager  that  it  seemed  best  to  give  in  tabular  form 
merely  the  number  of  volumes. 

Probably  the  most  striking  point  of  this  report  is  that  it 
shows  the  part  that  the  women's  clubs  have  taken  in  estab- 
lishing libraries  in  the  state. 

In  a  few  towns,  generous  citizens  have  furnished  the 
means  to  start  a  library.  In  the  aggregate,  gifts  to  Kansas 
libraries  have  been  considerable. 

The  extension  of  modern  library  methods  may  be  noted 
by  the  number  of  libraries  which  have  adopted  a  systematic 
classification,  only  a  few  reporting  a  "system  of  our  own," 
and  by  the  large  percentage  having  some  sort  of  a  catalog. 

In  very  few  towns  is  there  the  cooperation  between 
school  and  library  that  should  exist  for  the  greatest  effi- 
ciency. 

No  public  library  makes  mention  of  any  effort  to  collect 
local  historical  material  and  municipal  documents.  To  act 
as  historian  for  the  community  seems  peculiarly  the  prov- 
ince of  the  public  library. 

The  larger  proportion  of  subscription  and  association 
libraries  to  the  free  public  libraries  will  be  noticed.  This 
condition  is  gradually  changing,  for  towns  are  fast  realizing 
that  the  public  library  is  one  of  the  necessary  institutions 
of  the  community,  and  that  it,  as  well  as  the  public  school, 
must  receive  regular  municipal  support. 

It  is  hoped  that  the  knowledge  gained  by  reading  these 
accounts  of  past  efforts  and  present  conditions  in  the  Kan- 
sas library  field  will  stimulate  the  growing  library  spirit  in 


preface. 


the  state  and  thereby  lead  to  the  further  strengthening  of 
the  "people's  university." 

That  this  is  an  incomplete  account  of  the  libraries  in 
Kansas  is  only  too  evident,  but  if  it  should  serve  as  the 
basis  for  some  one  who  will  prepare  an  adequate  history  of 
the  subject,  it  will  not  have  been  sent  forth  in  vain. 


IRansas  libraries. 


IRansas  libraries. 


ABILENE. 

PUBLIC   LIBRARY. 

The  Library  was  founded  by  a  Library  Association  con- 
sisting of  three  ladies'  clubs:  The  Literary  League,  the 
Columbian,  and  the  Twentieth  Century.  These  ladies,  in 
one  year,  by  securing  lecturers  and  giving  rummage  sales, 
cleared  $1000.  Then,  through  a  book  shower,  they  received 
about  400  volumes  of  very  good  class.  The  character  of 
the  books  given  was  probably  due  to  having  each  donor 
affix  his  name  to  the  gift.  The  library  was  opened  Janu- 
ary 17,  1903. 

The  government  is  in  the  hands  of  an  advisory  board 
consisting  of  the  officers  of  the  association,  and  three  ad- 
ditional members,  one  from  each  club.  The  former  are 
elected  by  the  association,  the  latter  appointed  each  by 
her  own  club.  The  present  board  consists  of  Mrs.  J.  M. 
Gleissner,  president,  Mrs.  W.  H.  Anderson,  vice  president, 
Mrs.  H.  L.  Humphrey,  treasurer,  Miss  Mace  King,  secre- 
tary, and  Mrs.  T.  H.  Malott,  Mrs.  Shelley,  Mrs.  Prank 
Ball. 

Miss  Lida  Romig  is  librarian. 

The  reading-rooms  are  lighted  by  electricity.  The  tone 
of  the  walls  is  blue,  floor  gray.  The  furniture  consists  of 
a  tan-leather  davenport  eighteen  feet  long,  eleven  Lund- 
strum  elastic  bookcases,  one  oak  revolving  case  with  shelv- 
ing for  about  one  hundred  volumes,  two  long  tables,  five 
rockers  and  six  other  chairs,  oak  stand  for  catalog  case, 
dictionary  stand,  librarian's  desk,  and  easel  holding  bul- 
letin-board. The  furniture  harmonizes  very  well,  being 

(11) 


12  Hbilene. 


of  the  same  general  tone  in  oak.  There  is  one  large  pic- 
ture, Landseer's  "A  Random  Shot."  A  bust  of  Shake- 
speare and  Shakespeare  prints  complete  the  decorations. 

The  library  is  supported  by  membership  fees  and  by  the 
association.  The  ladies  recently  cleared  $96  at  a  rummage 
sale.  There  has  been  one  gift  of  $200  from  the  Abilene 
Commercial  Club. 

There  are  1271  volumes  and  22  periodicals  in  the  library. 
Anyone  may  use  any  book  in  the  library,  but  only  mem- 
bers may  borrow  books. 

The  membership  dues  are  $1  for  the  year;  50  cents 
half-yearly ;  25  cents  quarterly.  During  the  month  of 
March  617  books  were  loaned  and  there  were  1214  visitors, 

The  library  is  classified  by  the  Dewey  system.  There 
will  be  a  type  written  card  catalog. 

Population.  3649  ;  assessed  valuation,  $545,000. 


HtcMsom  13 


ATCHISON. 

MIDLAND  COLLEGE  LIBRARY. 

Midland  College  was  established  in  1887,  by  the  Evan- 
gelical Lutheran  Church. 

The  consolidated  library  includes  the  excellent  libraries 
of  the  two  literary  societies,  and  numbers  about  6000 
volumes. 

The  Dewey  system  of  classification  is  in  use.  Reading- 
rooms  are  maintained  in  both  dormitories  which  are  regu- 
larly supplied  with  the  leading  periodicals. 

The  library  is  situated  in  the  main  building,  known  as 
Atchison  Hall. 

One  of  the  most  pressing  needs  of  the  institution  is  a 
suitable  library  building  for  the  safe  housing  of  the  valua- 
ble collection  of  books  and  pamphlets.  Preliminary  plans 
have  been  drawn  for  such  a  building  which  would  contain 
fire-proof  stack  rooms,  a  reference  room,  a  reading-room,  a 
lecture-room,  and  offices.  The  building  is  estimated  to 
cost  about  $10,000. 

[Adapted  from  catalog  of  Midland  College,  1902-'03.] 


14  Htcbtson, 


ATCHISON. 

PUBLIC   LIBRARY. 

The  Atchison  Public  Library  was  incorporated  under 
the  laws  of  the  state  of  Kansas  in  the  spring  of  1879. 
About  six  months  later,  on  November  17,  its  doors  were 
opened  to  the  public.  Credit  should  be  given  to  Major  W.  F. 
Downs,  then  Superintendent  of  the  Central  Branch  R.  R., 
more  than  to  any  other  citizen  of  Atchison,  for  the  found- 
ing of  the  Library.  Realizing  the  necessity  of  attractive, 
well-supplied  reading-rooms  for  the  young  men  in  his  em- 
ploy, he  placed  the  matter  before  a  number  of  the  influ- 
ential ladies  of  the  city  and  promised  a  liberal  personal 
donation  and  the  cooperation  of  railroads  centering  in 
Atchison,  if  they  would  undertake  the  work.  Unfortu- 
nately for  the  association,  a  change  in  the  officials  of  the 
road  took  place  soon  after.  The  Central  Branch  then  be- 
came a  division  of  the  Missouri  Pacific  system.  Major 
Downs  made  good  his  pledge  as  far  as  possible,  but  the  aid 
hoped  for  from  other  railroads  was  never  given.  The  work 
once  undertaken  was  not  allowed  to  lapse,  for  the  twenty- 
four  ladies  composing  the  first  board  of  managers  were  un- 
tiring in  their  efforts. 

Two  large,  pleasant  rooms  on  the  second  floor  of  a  down- 
town building  were  leased,  a  librarian  and  janitor  engaged, 
and  1000  books  were  ready  for  use  on  the  opening  day. 

At  the  first  annual  meeting,  the  number  of  directors  was 
reduced  by  vote  from  twenty-four  to  fifteen.  The  directors 
and  officers  are  elected  by  ballot  annually.  From  the  first, 
it  has  been  a  woman's  organization.  By  the  sale  of  mem- 
berships, the  proceeds  from  entertainments  of  various 
kinds  and  a  few  gifts  of  books  and  money  ( the  latter  rang- 
ing in  sums  of  $25  to  $100)  the  current  expenses  were  met 
for  several  years.  The  expenditures  were  not  allowed  to 
exceed  receipts. 

In  October,   1887,  the  association  received  as  a  gift  a 


Htcbison.  15 


check  for  $10,000  from  Mr.  J.  P.  Pomeroy,  a  former  citi- 
zen. This  generous  gift  enabled  the  board  to  arrange  for 
permanent  quarters.  With  one-half  of  this  sum,  a  two- 
story  brick  building,  centrally  situated,  was  purchased. 
The  remainder  was  invested  in  mortgages.  The  income 
derived  from  the  investments,  with  the  rent  from  first-floor 
rooms,  has  materially  lessened  the  burden  borne  by  the 
directory.  From  time  to  time,  as  the  city  administration 
has  appreciated  its  importance,  small  appropriations,  usu- 
ally $25  per  month,  have  been  voted  toward  the  library's 
maintenance. 

The  membership  fee  was  originally  fixed  at  $2.50  a  year, 
but  in  1884  the  price  was  reduced  to  $1.  All  items  counted, 
the  receipts  have  averaged  about  $1600  and  the  expenses  a 
trifle  over  $1500.  The  latter  sum  includes  $300  for  libra- 
rian's salary,  $60  for  janitor,  all  books  and  periodicals 
purchased,  and  all  repairs  to  books  and  property.  Three 
hundred  memberships  are  sold  on  an  average  each  year,  al- 
though many  patrons  are  not  ticket-holders,  but  borrowers, 
paying  ten  cents  a  week  for  the  use  of  books. 

The  library  occupies  the  four  rooms  on  the  second  floor 
of  its  building.  The  reading-room  has  always  been  free  to 
the  public,  and  upon  its  tables  may  be  found  twelve  of  the 
leading  periodicals  and  six  daily  papers.  The  rooms  have 
been  open  eight  hours  of  each  week-day  and  three  hours 
on  Sundays,  except  on  national  holidays  or  when  house- 
cleaning  or  invoicing  became  necessary.  From  2500  to 
3000  readers  visit  the  rooms  yearly. 

Three  librarians  have  been  employed  during  the  twenty- 
four  years  of  the  library's  existence,  each  having  served 
well  and  faithfully.  Mrs.  M.  F.  De  Forest  was  in  office 
one  year.  Miss  Sarah  Talcot  served  three  years,  and  Mrs. 
Leontine  Scofield  has  performed  the  duties  continuously 
since  that  time. 

There  are  upon  the  shelves  nearly  8000  volumes.  The 
number  added  annually  averages  340,  although  only  270 
were  added  last  year. 


16  Htcbison. 


Between  $40  and  $50  dollars  is  expended  yearly  for  bind- 
ing and  repairs  to  books. 

In  the  selection  of  books,  the  committee  has  endeavored 
to  have  every  line  represented,  and  the  result  is  a  well  bal- 
anced whole.  Among  the  books  of  reference  may  be  found 
the  Century,  Webster's  and  Worcester's  dictionaries,  the 
Appleton,  Chambers'  and  Britannica  encyclopaedias,  and 
Poole's  index. 

When  the  library  was  ten  years  old,  a  carefully  classified 
catalog  was  issued.  This  catalog  gives  a  title,  subject  and 
author  list.  The  Dewey  Decimal  method  of  classification 
was  adopted  at  this  time  also. 

The  public-school  pupils  have  the  privileges  of  other 
citizens,  but  there  is  no  connection  between  the  public  and 
high-school  libraries. 

Through  the  kindness  of  the  late  Senator  Ingalls,  and  of 
other  Congressmen  from  our  state,  many  valuable  books 
and  documents  have  been  sent  to  the  library.  Upon  the 
wall  of  the  reading-room  hangs  an  excellent  portrait  of 
Mr.  J.  P.  Pomeroy,  the  library's  greatest  benefactor. 
There  are  also  portraits  of  the  late  Senator  Ingalls,  the 
late  Chief  Justice  Horton,  the  late  Gov.  J.  A.  Martin,  and 
of  Mr.  W.  W.  Guthrie  and  Mr.  E.  W.  Howe,  each  strongly 
identified  with  Atchison's  growth  and  prosperity.  In  the 
fall  of  1899  a  very  substantial  evidence  of  Mr.  Pomeroy's 
continued  interest  was  shown  when  he  presented  the  asso- 
ciation with  "The  Wrestlers,"  a  beautiful  piece  of  marble, 
standing  with  its  pedestal  over  six  feet  high. 

The  pressing  needs  of  the  library  at  this  time  are  larger 
and  more  convenient  rooms  and  a  new  catalog. 

The  members  of  the  Board  of  Directors  are  :  Mesdames 
W.  W.  Guthrie,  R.  A.  Park,  G.  W.  Glick,  Wm.  Schulze, 

D.  C.  Newcomb,  D.  J.  Holland,  C.  J.  Drury,  David  Martin, 

E.  S.  Mills,  A.  S.  Rowan,  E.  H.  Clark,  Lillian  Seaton,  and 
Misses  Frances  Woodward,  Blanche  McPike,  and  Nellie 
Allen. 

The  officers  are :   President,  Mrs.  W.  W.  Guthrie ;  vice- 


Htcbisotu  17 


president,  Mrs,  D.  J.  Holland ;  treasurer,  Mrs.  R.  A.  Park ; 
corresponding  secretary,  Mrs.  C.  J.  Drury ;  recording  sec- 
retary, Miss  Nellie  Allen. 

Atchison  has  a  population  of  18,000,  and  assessed  valu- 
ation of  $2,000,000. 


¥    ¥ 


ATCHISON. 

ST.  BENEDICT'S  COLLEGE  LIBRARY. 

The  College,  founded  in  1858  by  the  Benedictine  Fathers, 
has  two  distinct  libraries,  one  of  which  is  for  the  use 
of  the  students.  The  college  library  proper  is  for  the  spe- 
cial use  of  professors,  and  contains  more  than  15,000  vol- 
umes and  over  3000  pamphlets.  The  works  in  the  students' 
library  cover  nearly  every  department  of  literature.  Papers 
and  periodicals  supply  the  current  news  of  the  day.  This 
library  contains  3650  volumes,  and  additions  are  made  every 
year. 

[Adapted  from  catalog.] 


—2 


is  ffialfcwim 


BALDWIN. 

BAKER   UNIVERSITY   LIBRARY. 

Established  by  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  Kan- 
sas, Baker  University  was  chartered  February  12, 1858,  and 
the  doors  opened  to  students  in  September  of  the  same  year. 

The  general  library  has  been  carefully  selected  to  repre- 
sent the  various  fields  of  literature,  and  is  able  to  supply 
good  working  material  to  the  students.  Many  of  the  lead- 
ing periodicals  are  on  file.  The  reading-room  is  open  for 
the  convenience  of  students  almost  the  entire  day,  and  lib- 
eral facilities  are  offered  in  the  use  of  the  reference  library 
and  in  the  loaning  of  books.  A  printed  catalog  renders  the 
material  of  the  library  available.  The  departments  of  Greek, 
English  and  Political  Science  have  department  libraries 
selected  with  reference  to  their  especial  needs.  Large 
show-cases  have  been  placed  in  the  library  for  the  preserva- 
tion and  display  of  literary  relics,  including  manuscripts, 
old  maps,  autographs. 

The  library  now  numbers  7600  bound  volumes,  350  un- 
bound volumes,  and  1000  pamphlets. 

The  library  is  at  present  in  the  basement  of  Science  Hall. 
There  are  gratifying  prospects,  however,  that  a  new  library 
building  will  be  erected  in  the  near  future.  Hon.  Nelson 
Case  has  inaugurated  the  movement  by  a  generous  gift. 

[Adapted  from  catalog,  1902.] 


»lue  IRapibs,  19 


BLUE  RAPIDS. 

PUBLIC   LIBKARY. 

The  Public  Library  was  organized  in  1874. 

In  1899,  Mr.  John  McPherson  solicited  Mr.  Andrew 
Carnegie  for  a  gift  for  the  library.  He  responded  by  giv- 
ing $500,  to  be  used  for  purchasing  books.  The  library  is 
now  in  a  prosperous  condition. 

The  Ladies'  Library  Association  of  Blue  Rapids  con- 
sists of  a  board  of  directors,  composed  of  fifteen  ladies, 
one- third  elected  annually,  for  the  terms  of  one,  two  and 
three  years.  The  present  board  consists  of  Mrs.  Tibbets, 
president ;  Mrs.  Barton,  vice-president ;  Mrs.  Smythe,  sec- 
retary; Mrs.  Hunter,  corresponding  secretary;  Mrs.  Mc- 
Pherson, treasurer;  Mrs.  Allerdice,  Mrs.  Richey,  Mrs 
Brown,  Mrs.  Lea,  Mrs.  Burr,  Mrs.  Wohlford,  Mrs.  Massey, 
Mrs.  Goodwin,  Mrs.  Coulter,  Mrs.  Cox. 

Since  1898,  Chloe  Axtell,  Daisy  Roache  and  Gertrude 
Axtell  have  been  the  librarians. 

The  association  owns  its  building,  which  is  two  stories 
high,  with  a  basement.  It  measures  22x40  feet.  The  an- 
nual receipts  are  about  $100 ;  the  sum  for  books,  $75 ;  the 
sum  for  salaries,  $30 ;  incidentals,  $60. 

The  association  charges  an  annual  fee  of  $1. 

The  number  of  volumes  is  3468,  not  including  period- 
icals, 77  volumes  being  added  last  year ;  1867  books  were 
loaned  last  year. 

Population  is  1250 ;  assessed  valuation,  $210,000. 


20  Burlington. 


BURLINGTON. 

FREE    PUBLIC   LIBRARY. 

In  1884,  a  Library  Association  was  formed,  each  share- 
holder paying  one  dollar  a  year.  In  1888,  the  city  voted  to 
accept  the  library  and  maintain  it  as  a  free  public  library. 

The  library  now  occupies  a  rented  room  20x40  feet.  It 
is  governed  by  a  board  of  twelve  trustees  appointed  by  the 
mayor.  The  present  board  consists  of  Mrs.  M.  E.  Grotty, 
Mrs.  J.  A.  Connal,  Mrs.  M.  A.  Beatty,  Mrs.  F.  Wagoner, 
Mrs.  K.  Rhinehart,  Mrs.  M.  McConnell,  Mrs.  B.  Hall,  Mrs. 
M.  Neyhart,  Mrs.  E.  Cogshall,  Dr.  E.  S.  Cleveland,  Mr.  F. 
D.  Jones,  and  Mrs.  M.  Hopkins. 

Delia  Hall  is  the  present  librarian.  The  others  have 
been  Mrs.  M.  E.  Lock  wood  and  Mrs.  E.  Roper.  There  are 
2119  volumes,  168  being  added  last  year;  6100  volumes 
were  loaned  last  year.  The  receipts  for  1902  were  $507.20 ; 
of  this  $144.98  was  expended  for  books  and  $192  for  salary. 

Population,  2400;  assessed  valuation,  $382,288. 


Cbanute,  21 


CAWKER  CITY. 

THE  WOMAN'S  HESPERIAN  LIBRARY  CLUB. 

The  Woman's  Hesperian  Library  Club,  of  Cawker  City, 
was  organized  in  1883.  Voluntary  contributions  of  books 
were  made.  The  club  now  owns  its  library  building  and 
two  lots  on  which  it  stands.  There  are  twelve  directors 
chosen  annually;  the  president  of  the  club,  by  virtue  of 
office,  being  librarian.  The  dues  are  one  dollar  a  year,  from 
January  1  of  each  year,  which  includes  also  a  card  for  a 
year's  reading  in  the  library.  The  object  of  the  club  is 
'To  maintain  a  public  library,  and  interest  women  in  lit- 
erature.' 

The  club  receives  about  $150  annually  from  gifts,  ex- 
pends about  $100  for  books,  $25  for  librarian's  salary,  and 
about  $50  for  incidentals.  The  library  receives  no  support 
from  the  city. 

The  number  of  volumes  in  the  library  now  is  2200,  100 
being  added  last  year. 

Population,  1000. 


¥    ¥ 


CHANUT 

PUBLIC   LIBRARY. 

A  library  association,  consisting  of  the  leading  citizens 
of  Chanute,  succeeded  in  establishing  a  public  library  Oc- 
tober 7, 1901.  Money  to  maintain  it  was  solicited  from  the 
business  men  and  others.  It  occupies  rooms  leased  in- 
definitely from  the  city. 

There  are  about  1000  volumes  in  the  library,  and  20 
periodicals  and  15  newspapers  are  received.  The  annual 
receipts  are  $811.  The  library  has  met  with  many  dis- 
couragements and  is  not  in  a  prosperous  condition. 


22  ConcorMa. 


CHAPMAN. 

DICKINSON   COUNTY   HIGH-SCHOOL    LIBRARY. 

The  history  of  the  library  dates  from  the  opening  of  the 
school,  in  1889.  It  is  controlled  by  a  committee  of  three, 
chosen  from  the  board  of  trustees.  Until  recent  years,  the 
principal  of  the  school  has  had  charge  of  the  library,  and 
has  been  assisted  by  students.  The  library  has  its  quar- 
ters in  a  neat  little  room  opening  out  of  the  assembly  hall. 
About  $50  annually  is  spent  for  books,  and  about  $30  for 
binding.  The  salary  paid  for  the  care  of  the  books  is  $70 
per  year.  There  are  now  2484  volumes,  and  of  these  235 
are  periodicals ;  184  volumes  were  added  last  year. 

No  one  is  allowed  to  use  the  books  except  the  students, 
and  they  have  free  access  to  the  shelves.  The  library  is 
especially  strong  in  reference  books,  and  has  more  biog- 
raphy, history  and  science  than  fiction.  The  books  are 
classified  by  the  Dewey  system. 

A  reading-table,  with  about  twenty-five  of  the  leading 
periodicals  and  about  the  same  number  of  newspapers,  is 
an  important  feature. 


¥    ¥    ¥ 


CONCOKDIA. 

PUBLIC   LIBRARY. 

The  Concordia  Ladies'  Library  Association  was  formed 
November  18,  1892. 

Officers  elected  annually  constitute  the  board  of  trustees 
—president,  Mrs.  Kathryn  Craig ;  first  vice-president,  Mrs. 
Walter  Darlington ;  second  vice-president,  Mrs.  A.  B.  Mil- 
ler ;  treasurer,  Mrs.  H.  M.  Spalding ;  secretary,  Mrs.  E.  S. 
Hill ;  librarian,  Mrs.  M.  M.  Allendoerfer.  Previous  libra- 
rians have  been  Mrs.  H.  C.  Dudley,  Mrs.  J.  E.  Wilfong. 


Delpbos*  23 


The  library  is  situated  in  a  room  about  20  x  24  feet,  and 
is  over  a  clothing  store.  The  use  of  the  room  is  given,  rent 
free,  by  Col.  N.  B.  Brown. 

The  maintenance  is  from  subscriptions,  fines,  occasional 
entertainments,  and  gifts,  not  usually  exceeding  $20  an- 
nually. The  cost  of  administration  is  only  the  sum  for 
fuel  and  insurance.  For  books,  last  year  $160  was  expended, 
with  $11  for  periodicals. 

A  subscription  fee  of  one  dollar  per  year  is  charged. 
There  are  eighty-four  subscribers. 

Beginning  with  65  volumes,  the  library  now  has  1739 
volumes,  185  being  added  last  year.  About  77  volumes  are 
loaned  weekly ;  3986  volumes  were  loaned  last  year. 

A  printed  catalog  was  issued  last  April. 

The  library  is  open  Tuesday  and  Friday  afternoons  of 
each  week. 

A  half-dozen  women  have  organized  and  maintained  the 
library,  with  never  a  larger  gift  than  $10,  except  the  room 
rent,  which  Colonel  Brown  has  given  for  eight  years. 

Population,  4025 ;  assessed  valuation,  $529,987. 


¥    ¥    ¥ 


DELPHOS. 

PUBLIC   LIBKARY. 

March  9,  1888,  a  few  ladies  formed  an  association  known 
as  the  Delphos  Library  Association  and  established  a  pub- 
lic library.  It  was  very  small  at  first  and  had  no  place  to 
keep  the  books,  except  when  they  were  allowed  space  in  the 
rear  of  some  store  by  courtesy  of  the  merchant.  The  library 
was  moved  from  place  to  place  until  three  years  ago,  when 
the  association  raised  money  and  bought  a  lot  in  the  busi- 
ness part  of  town,  borrowed  $375,  and  built  a  small  one- 
story  building,  20x40  feet.  Since  that  time,  money  has 
been  secured  in  various  ways  to  reduce  the  debt,  until  now 
only  $75  remains  to  be  paid. 


24  Ddpbos. 


The  library  building  is  about  four  feet  from  the  side- 
walk, faces  the  west,  has  an  entire  glass  front,  with  wooden 
awning.  The  building  is  divided  by  a  partition,  making 
a  front  and  a  back  room,  The  front  room  is  rented  to  a 
jeweler  and  is  used  also  for  library  room.  The  library  is 
open  every  Saturday  afternoon  from  two  until  five  o'clock. 
Any  one  who  pays  fifty  cents  per  year  may  become  a  mem- 
ber of  the  association  and  have  free  use  of  the  books.  The 
annual  receipts  from  membership  fees  are  $35  and  from 
rent  of  room  $48. 

The  salary  of  the  librarian  is  $12  per  year.  No  books 
have  been  purchased  for  two  years.  Every  six  months,  the 
library  procures  a  set  of  books  from  the  State  Traveling 
Libraries  Commission. 

The  association  owns  600  volumes,  has  very  few  refer- 
ence books,  no  encyclopedias,  and  has  more  fiction  than 
other  material.  The  books  are  classified  by  authors. 

There  are  seven  trustees,  chosen  by  the  members  of  the 
association.  Present  board:  Mrs.  Benj.  Richards,  presi- 
dent ;  Jennie  Wright,  vice-president ;  Anna  Mclntire  Rich- 
ards, secretary ;  Mrs.  Lottie  Smith,  assistant  secretary ; 
Mrs.  Grace  Billings,  treasurer;  Miss  Rosa  Blanchard,  li- 
brarian, and  Mrs.  Rilla  Duncan. 

The  librarians  have  been  C.  D.  Bower,  Daisy  GK  Clen- 
dinen ;  assistants,  Nettie  Richards,  Edith  Dopp,  and  Kate 
Richards ;  1890  to  1893,  Lottie  Richards ;  1895,  Myrtle  Dun- 
can ;  1899  to  1903,  Rosa  Blanchard. 

The  population  of  Delphos  is  648. 


w 


Q 


jemporia*  25 


EMPORIA. 

ANDEKSON   MEMORIAL   LIBRARY  OP   THE   COLLEGE   OF 
EMPORIA. 

Anderson  Memorial  Library  was  established  in  April, 
1888,  as  a  memorial  to  Col.  and  Mrs.  John  B.  Ander- 
son, of  Manhattan,  on  the  occasion  of  their  fiftieth  wed- 
ding anniversary,  which  was  April  25, 1888.  The  plan  was 
formed  by  the  Synod  of  Kansas,  which  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  carry  out  the  idea,  consisting  of  the  Rev.  D.  0. 
Milner.  of  Manhattan,  chairman ;  the  Rev.  J.  N.  McClung, 
Junction  City;  and  Messrs.  Gr.  W.  Martin,  Topeka;  B. 
Rockwell,  Junction  City ;  E.  B.  Purcell,  Manhattan. 

The  library  building  was  erected  in  1901  by  Andrew 
Carnegie,  as  his  memorial  to  John  B.  Anderson,  his  former 
patron  and  friend.  The  building  was  erected  at  a  cost  of 
$30.000,  is  modern  and  complete,  is  fire-proof,  and  can  ac- 
commodate 25,000  volumes.  There  are  two  large  reading- 
rooms,  one  used  for  a  faculty-senior  room,  besides  the 
librarian's  room  and  delivery  desk  on  the  first  floor,  and  a 
missionary  museum,  containing  the  missionary  library, 
missionary  curios,  etc.,  on  the  second  floor. 

The  trustees  of  the  college  control  the  library,  appoint 
the  librarians  and  the  library  committee.  The  trustees  are 
fourteen  in  number  and  are  appointed  by  the  Synod  of 
Kansas  for  a  term  of  three  years. 

Martha  R.  McCabe  is  the  librarian  at  present.  The 
others  have  been  H.  G.  Belotegny,  Agnes  Law. 

There  are  no  annual  receipts  and  no  endowment  as  yet. 
The  gifts  consist  of  collections  of  books  sent  by  friends, 
and  private  contributions  of  money  from  friends  and  pat- 
rons. There  is  no  fixed  sum  for  the  purchase  of  books. 
The  salary  of  the  librarian  is  $500.  The  library  owns  6200 
volumes,  the  number  added  last  year  by  gifts  being  about 
500  volumes.  The  use  of  the  library  is  entirely  free  to 
students  of  the  institution,  and  may  be  used  as  a  reference 
library  by  the  general  jpublic,  but  circulation  is  limited  to 
the  students  and  faculty. 


26  jemporia. 


The  library  is  especially  strong  in  the  departments  of 
history  and  religion,  and  has  a  good  supply  of  general  ref- 
erence works,  is  classified  according  to  the  Dewey  system, 
and  has  a  card  catalog, 

In  1902,  the  Hon.  George  W.  Martin,  of  Topeka,  gave 
his  collection  of  Kansas  books  to  the  library.  This  is 
known  as  the  "George  W.  Martin  Kansas  Collection,"  and 
is  the  first  special  collection  aside  from  the  Anderson  col- 
lection, which  formed  the  nucleus  of  the  present  library. 
Portraits  of  former  members  of  the  faculty  and  board  of 
trustees  are  hung  in  the  corridor  and  reading-rooms. 


EMPORIA. 

FREE   PUBLIC   LIBRARY. 

The  library  was  established  in  1884,  by  a  stock  company, 
but  is  now  controlled  by  the  city.  The  present  board  of 
six  trustees,  chosen  by  the  mayor,  consists  of  Prof.  J.  H. 
Hill,  J.  W.  Weyler,  0.  S.  Wooster,  Mrs.  W.  A.  Kandolph, 
Job  D.  Allen,  and  Mrs.  J.  J.  Atherton. 

The  library  at  present  occupies  rented  quarters  in  a  store 
building,  but  is  to  have  a  new  Carnegie  building  in  the 
near  future. 

The  receipts  annually  are  about  $1200 ;  of  this  sum  $300 
being  spent  for  books,  $100  for  binding,  and  $420  for 
salaries. 

There  are  6800  volumes  in  the  library ;  390  being  added 
last  year.  The  circulation  is  16,435. 

Mrs.  M.  L.  Whildin  is  the  present  librarian.  The  others 
have  been  Mrs.  A.  P.  Morse,  Mrs.  Annette  Carpenter,  Mrs. 
A.  J.  Wicks. 

Population,  10,000;  assessed  valuation,  $2,300,000. 


lEmporia.  27 


EMPORIA. 

LIBRARY   OF   THE    STATE  NORMAL    SCHOOL. 

Early  in  the  administration  of  President  Kellogg,  about 
1865,  an  effort  was  made  to  supply  the  school  with  books 
of  reference,  and  soon  the  list  included  a  variety  of  lines, 

In  1870,  the  value  of  the  library  was  estimated  at 
$2000.  Generous  gifts  had  been  made  from  time  to  time. 
Some  valuable  additions  were  made  during  the  next  few 
years,  and,  although  the  number  of  volumes  was  not  large, 
the  books  were  well  adapted  to  the  needs  of  the  school. 
All  went  with  the  fire  of  1878.  Before  the  close  of  the  fol- 
lowing year,  350  volumes  had  been  collected  for  a  new 
library.  Senator  Plumb  increased  the  number  by  a  gift  of 
200  volumes.  On  August  10,  1880,  through  the  efforts  of 
the  faculty,  and  especially  of  Prof.  B.  T.  Davis,  the  school 
secured  the  right  and  title  to  785  volumes  from  the  Athe- 
naeum Library  Association  of  the  city  of  Emporia.  The 
list  included  461  books  belonging  to  the  old  Emporia  Li- 
brary Association.  "This  transfer  was  made  by  and  with 
the  consent  of  the  life  members  of  the  Library  Association, 
who  accepted  free  tickets  in  return."  Demand  being  made 
for  the  books  by  the  old  stockholders,  the  regents  ordered 
them  turned  over  to  the  new  city  library  association,  Feb- 
ruary 12,  1884.  This  transfer  left  about  1200  volumes  in 
the  library. 

About  this  time  the  legislature  became  more  liberal,  so 
that,  by  the  time  of  the  quarter-centennial,  1889,  the  total 
number  of  volumes  exceeded  5000,  and  the  library  owned 
a  good  line  of  cyclopedias,  lexicons,  gazetteers  and  educa- 
tional reports,  works  on  the  theory,  art  and  history  of  edu- 
cation, and  standard  works  on  history,  literature,  science, 
philosophy,  with  many  of  the  leading  periodicals. 

The  library  occupied  a  small  room  north  of  No.  37  from 
1880  to  1883,  when  new  cases  were  put  in,  and  No.  37  be- 
came the  reading-room.  These  two  rooms  accommodated 
the  library  until  1888,  when  it  was  removed  to  three  well- 
lighted  rooms  in  the  new  wing.  In  1882,  the  card  system 


28  jemporia. 


was  introduced  by  Professor  Sadler.  Until  1889,  the  li- 
brarians had  been  students  acting  under  direction  of  a 
member  of  the  faculty,  but  by  that  time  the  demands 
upon  the  librarian  had  become  so  great  that  the  regents 
appointed  as  librarian  Miss  Mary  A,  Whitney,  assistant 
teacher  in  the  grammar  department.* 

Miss  Elva  E.  Clarke,  the  present  librarian,  succeeded 
Miss  Whitney  in  1892. 

The  library  has  16,000  volumes,  of  which  890  were 
added  last  year ;  $1000  is  expended  for  books,  and  $1700 
for  salaries. 

The  library  is  classified  by  the  Dewey  system,  and  has 
its  dictionary  card  catalog  filed  in  a  case  between  the  mid- 
dle and  west  libraries. 

The  Plumb  library  of  public  documents,  a  choice  collec- 
tion of  about  1000  volumes,  transferred  by  the  family  of 
the  late  Senator  Plumb  to  the  library,  is  at  present  placed 
in  a  room  adjoining  the  library, 

The  library  has  outgrown  its  present  quarters  and  will 
soon  move  into  the  new  library  building,  which  has  just 
been  completed  at  a  cost  of  $60,000.  It  is  of  brick  and 
terra-cotta,  and  has  been  designed  especially  for  library 
work.  The  ground  floor  contains  the  large  entrance  hall, 
from  which  the  stairway  leads  to  the  floor  above,  a  lecture- 
room,  with  sloping  floor  and  having  a  seating  capacity  of 
almost  200,  an  unpacking  room,  connected  with  the  stacks 
above  by  a  book  lift,  and  four  large  seminary  rooms,  where 
professors  and  students  may  gather  for  quiet  study.  The 
chief  feature  of  the  second  floor  is  the  reading-room,  with 
provision  for  200  readers.  Open  shelves  for  reference  and 
other  books  in  great  demand  are  to  be  placed  in  this  room. 
Near  the  stairway  is  the  delivery  room,  closely  connected 
with  the  stacks.  The  stack  system  of  shelving,  which  pro- 
vides for  the  storage  of  the  greatest  number  of  books  in 
the  smallest  space,  is  the  plan  to  be  used  in  the  new  library. 
The  stacks  are  of  steel,  and  that  part  of  the  building  of 
"slow-burning  construction,"  thus  minimizing  the  danger 
from  fire.  On  this  floor  also  are  the  librarian's  office,  the 

*Above  adapted  from  History  of  State  Normal  School,  1889. 


jBmporia.  29 


cataloguing  room,  and  the  children's  room,  where  the  pu- 
pils of  the  Model  School  may  spend  many  happy  hours. 

In  addition  to  the  help  incidentally  given  by  the  librari- 
ans, the  instruction  on  the  use  of  the  library  heretofore 
given  in  the  school-management  class  will  be  continued. 
The  course  in  library  management,  Miss  Gertrude  Shaw- 
han,  B.  L.  S.,  Library  School,  Champaign,  111.,  instructor, 
offered  regularly  to  the  H  class  in  the  last  ten  weeks  of  the 
year,  will  be  open  to  any  student  of  the  normal  department 
on  the  payment  of  two  dollars,  which  is  the  usual  fee  for 
taking  a  ten  weeks'  subject  irregularly.  The  following  is 
an  outline  of  the  course  to  be  given  in  the  ten  weeks : 

I.  Lectures  once  a  week  upon  general  library  topics. 

II.  Lectures  dealing  with  the  technical  side  of  library 
work,  especially  in  connection  with  school  libraries. 

III.  Practical  problems,  assigned  after  each  lecture, 
prepared  and  handed  in,  corrected,  returned,  and  discussed 
in  class. 

The  general  lectures  will  cover  the  following  topics :  The 
school  library,  its  use  and  purpose ;  the  books  for  a  school 
library ;  school-library  legislation ;  children's  literature ; 
the  library  movement ;  some  well-known  librarians ;  book- 
making,  a  brief  historical  sketch ;  library  literature.  Tech- 
nical lectures  and  practical  problems  will  be  taken  up  in 
the  order  found  necessary  in  actual  work.  One  lesson  will 
be  given  on  each  of  the  following  topics :  The  principles 
which  should  guide  in  selecting  books  for  a  school  library, 
how  to  order  books,  accessioning.  Two  lectures  and  four 
problems  will  be  given  to  the  subject  of  classification,  and 
twenty-two  lectures  and  recitations  with  daily  problems  in 
cataloguing.  The  last  five  days  of  the  term  will  be  given 
to  the  examination,  which  will  be  a  practical  test  of  the 
students'  ability  to  accession,  classify,  assign  book  num- 
bers, and  catalog  selected  books.  The  instruction  in  cata- 
loguing will  deal  with  only  those  topics  likely  to  occur  in 
the  school  library.  These  will  be  studied  in  the  following 
order:  Author  card,  title  card,  reference  cards,  the  treat- 
ment of  compound  and  prefix  names,  anonymous  books, 
added  editions,  joint  authors,  books  published  under  pseu- 


30  jfort  IRile?. 


donyms  or  initials,  series  and  periodicals.  The  question 
of  subject  headings  will  be  studied  as  a  general  topic  and 
illustrated  by  problems  dealing  with  particular  subjects, 
such  as  history,  biography,  literature,  etc.  One  lecture 
will  be  given  on  the  arrangement  of  the  catalog,  one  on 
charging  systems,  one  on  repair  work,  one  on  furniture  and 
supplies,  and  two  on  reference  books  and  the  preparation 
of  reference  lists. 


FORT  RILEY. 

LIBRARY   OF   THE   CAVALRY    AND    FIELD   ARTILLERY   SCHOOL. 

A  library  has  been  in  existence  at  the  Post  since  the 
founding,  but  only  within  the  last  five  years  has  it  attained 
any  importance.  It  is  for  the  use  of  student-officers  only, 
in  attendance  at  the  School  of  Application  for  Cavalry  and 
Field  Artillery,  and  is  controlled  by  the  commanding  offi- 
cer of  the  school.  It  is  now  quartered  in  Administration 
Building,  Fort  Riley.  The  librarian  is  Capt.  F.  T.  Arnold, 
Fourth  Cavalry,  United  States  Army ;  the  assistant  libra- 
rian, Douglass  Bancroft,  United  States  civil  service. 

The  allotment  for  care  and  purchase  of  books  is  from 
annual  appropriation  of  the  United  States  government 
through  the  Army  War  College  Board,  Washington,  D.  C., 
and  amounts  to  $1118  for  the  year  1902-'03. 

The  total  number  of  volumes  in  the  library  is  6109,  dis- 
tributed as  follows:  Biography,  history,  travel,  political 
economy,  law,  and  science,  5569 ;  fiction,  540  (  English,  288 ; 
French,  194;  Spanish,  58);  388  volumes  were  added  last 
year.  With  but  few  exceptions,  the  fiction  comprises  the 
standard  works  in  the  several  languages  named.  The 
library  is  especially  strong  in  works  relating  to  military 
science,  travel,  and  biography,  and  has  valuable  monographs 
on  the  military  systems  of  foreign  countries  and  scientific 


(Balena,  31 


and  professional  reports  from  the  various  governmental 
bureaus. 

The  library  has  19  cyclopedias,  3  English  and  10  for- 
eign dictionaries, 

The  library  is  classified  by  a  modification  of  the  Dewey 
system.  There  is  a  card  catalog  by  author,  title,  and  sub- 
ject. Between  100  and  125  volumes  are  constantly  in  the 
hands  of  the  officers. 

There  is  no  co-operation  with  local  libraries,  as  this  is 
supported  by  government  funds. 


GALENA. 

PUBLIC  LIBKARY. 

The  library  movement  in  Galena  began  under  the  leader- 
ship of  the  various  young  peoples'  societies  of  the  churches. 
For  about  two  years  they  kept  open  a  library  and  reading- 
room.  The  expenses  of  room  and  attendance  were  paid  by 
a  membership  list  and  sale  of  tickets,  at  one  dollar  per  year, 
for  the  use  of  books. 

A  movement  was  then  started  to  put  the  library  on  a 
permanent  basis,  by  placing  it  under  the  charge  of  the  city. 
The  tax  for  maintenance  was  vetoed  twice,  however,  and,  as 
a  consequence,  the  books  were  boxed  and  the  library  closed 
for  two  years.  In  September,  1902,  when  the  new  city 
building  was  opened,  a  pleasant  room  on  the  ground  floor 
with  corner  entrance  was  offered  to  the  ladies.  The  ladies' 
clubs  had  taken  up  the  library  interests  after  the  other  so- 
cieties became  discouraged. 

The  room,  light,  heat  and  janitor's  services  are  now  fur- 
nished free.  There  is  yet  no  support  for  a  librarian,  and 
the  clubs,  six  in  number,  each  have  a  day  for  which  they 
are  responsible  for  keeping  the  room  open  in  the  afternoon, 
from  two  until  six.  A  Young  Men's  Historical  Club  opens 
it  every  evening. 


32  (Birarb, 


There  are  about  1000  volumes  in  the  library.  The  Cen- 
tury Dictionary  has  recently  been  purchased,  and  other 
reference  works  will  be  added  as  fast  as  possible.  At  pres- 
ent, the  Traveling  Libraries  Commission  supplies  the  de- 
mand for  recent  works. 


GIRARD. 

LIBRARY   ASSOCIATION. 

The  Library  Association  was  organized  January,  1899, 
by  the  Federation  of  City  Clubs.  The  city  took  charge  of 
the  library  June,  1901.  The  affairs  are  managed  by  twelve 
trustees.  The  library  occupies  two  rented  rooms,  on  the 
south  side  of  the  public  square.  Blanche  Warren  is  libra- 
rian. Mrs.  Eva  Smith  was  librarian  previously. 

The  cost  of  administration,  annually,  is  $366.85 ;  the  sum 
for  salaries,  $96 ;  the  remainder  of  income  is  expended  for 
books. 

There  are  now  1000  volumes  in  the  library,  188  being 
added  last  year.  The  circulation  is  about  522  monthly. 

The  present  board  of  trustees  consists  of  Mrs.  S.  A.  Hal- 
derman,  president ;  Mrs.  Belle  E.  Gaitskill,  secretary ;  Mrs- 
John  Magie,  Mrs.  Esther  Goodkind,  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Eay- 
mond.  Miss  Kate  Ping,  Mrs.  Mary  Shafer,  Mr.  J.  F. 
Brock,  Mr.  Homer  McCoy,  Mr.  C.  F.  Millington,  Mr.  H. 
W.  Shideler,  Mr.  G.  W.  Strickler. 


3 
1 


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i 

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F 
0 


1bal0tea&*  33 


HALSTEAD. 

PUBLIC  LIBRAEY. 

The  library  was  established  July  31,  1892,  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  the  Rev.  J,  W.  Funk 
being  the  prime  mover. 

The  library  was  transferred  to  the  city  July  28,  1893. 
There  were  316  volumes,  with  bookcases.  It  is  now  a  free 
public  library,  governed  by  a  board  of  twelve  trustees,  and 
has  546  volumes.  About  $250  is  received  for  yearly  ex- 
penses. 

In  addition,  the  schools  have  a  library  of  650  volumes. 
The  pupils  have  free  use  of  these  books,  which  are  mainly 
reference  works  in  the  lines  of  literature,  history,  geography, 
travels,  science.  The  two  libraries  co-operate  in  the  selec- 
tion of  books,  the  public  library  buying  chiefly  fiction, 
periodicals  and  papers. 


34  Ibiawatba* 


HIAWATHA. 

MORRILL    PUBLIC   LIBRARY. 

In  March,  1882,  Mr.  E.  N.  Morrill  gave  to  the  city  of 
Hiawatha  the  sum  of  $2000  for  the  purpose  of  founding  a 
public  library.  At  the  same  time  it  was  pledged  by  the 
mayor  and  councilmen  of  Hiawatha  that  a  suitable  place 
for  the  library  and  money  to  meet  current  expenses  would 
be  provided  by  the  city.  Subsequently,  Mr.  Charles  H. 
Janes  gave  $1000,  the  interest  only  of  which  is  used. 

The  Morrill  Public  Library  was  first  opened  to  readers 
May  29,  1882,  at  which  time  there  were  1300  volumes  on 
the  shelves.  On  October  25, 1882,  it  was  re-opened  in  more 
attractive  and  commodious  rooms  with  2000  volumes.  The 
library  now  occupies  a  large,  airy  room  on  the  second  floor 
of  the  Post-office  Building.  This  room  is  separated  into 
three  divisions  by  railings  merely.  These  divisions  form 
the  reading-room,  children's  room,  and  library. 

The  city  provides  the  room  and  pays  the  librarian.  The 
interest  from  the  bequest,  the  sale  of  cards  and  fines  col- 
lected form  the  revenue  of  the  library,  amounting  to  about 
$800  per  annum.  The  library  has  many  kind  friends,  who 
make  valuable  contributions  from  time  to  time.  There  is 
no  stated  amount  for  the  purchase  of  books.  They  are 
purchased  whenever  the  funds  on  hand  will  permit.  About 
200  volumes  were  added  last  year.  There  are  now  over 
6000  volumes  in  the  library  and  about  4000  are  catalogued. 
The  Dewey  system  of  classification  and  cataloguing  is 
used.  The  catalog  is  on  cards. 

There  are  about  150  subscribers  to  the  library.  The 
reading-room  is  well  patronized,  being  provided  with  a 
good  collection  of  the  current  periodicals. 

The  library  has  a  number  of  pictures,  chiefly  of  local 
interest. 

The  teachers  in  the  public  schools  make  frequent  use 
of  the  library,  both  for  themselves  and  their  pupils.  In 
the  high  school,  the  reading  is  arranged  with  reference  to 


Ibiawatba*  35 


the  material  found  in  the  library.  A  year  ago,  a  course  of 
reading  for  each  grade  was  prepared  upon  the  same  plan. 

The  library  is  governed  by  a  board  of  five  trustees,  two 
chosen  by  Mr.  Morrill,  and  three  elected  by  the  city  coun- 
cil. The  present  board  consists  of  the  Rev.  Waters,  presi- 
dent ;  Mrs.  W.  W.  Nye,  secretary ;  Mr.  W.  O.  Bechtel,  Mr. 
Horace  Amann,  and  Mr.  Frank  Case. 

Miss  Julia  W.  Smith  is  the  present  librarian,  the  others 
having  been  Miss  R.  D.  Kiner,  Mrs.  Remigan,  Miss  Carl, 
Miss  Rohl,  Miss  Fanny  Bechtel,  Mrs.  Linnie  Macey. 

Every  inhabitant  of  Brown  county  fifteen  years  old  and 
over  is  entitled  to  the  free  use  of  the  library,  in  accordance 
with  the  regulations.  Persons  under  fifteen  may  be  ad- 
mitted upon  guaranty  satisfactory  to  the  librarian.  Per- 
sons wishing  to  draw  books  from  the  library  must  pay  one 
dollar  per  year  for  the  privilege.  The  librarian  may  re- 
quire an  additional  deposit  in  case  of  loaning  rare  or  costly 
volumes.  Transient  persons  are  required  to  deposit  the 
price  of  the  book  borrowed,  which  deposit  may  be  with- 
drawn, allowing  ten  cents  per  day  for  use  of  book.  All  in- 
juries to  books  beyond  reasonable  wear  and  all  losses  shall 
be  made  good  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  trustees  by  the 
borrower.  If  the  volume  lost  or  injured  form  part  of  a  set, 
the  whole  set  must  be  replaced  by  the  person  liable,  he  be- 
ing entitled  to  the  damaged  set.  Books  of  reference,  rare 
or  costly  volumes,  and  such  as  the  trustees  may  reserve, 
are  not  to  be  taken  from  the  library  without  special  per- 
mission. 

Population,  3000 ;  assessed  valuation,  $490,000. 


36  iborton* 


HORTON. 

PUBLIC   LIBRARY, 

The  public  library  was  established  in  1898,  through 
subscriptions  by  citizens  of  Horton.  Last  September,  it 
was  merged  with  the  high-school  library.  For  some  time, 
the  public  library  had  not  been  very  liberally  patronized, 
and  many  people  felt  that  it  would  be  more  useful  if  com- 
bined with  the  school  library.  The  room  that  had  been 
rented  for  the  use  of  the  public  library  was  given  up,  and 
all  the  books,  cases,  tables,  etc.,  belonging  to  the  public 
library  were  given  over  in  trust  to  the  Board  of  Educa- 
tion, to  be  moved  to  the  Central  School  building,  where 
they  have  been  since  that  time,  and  will  probably  remain. 
Extensive  use  is  made  of  the  books  in  the  regular  work  of 
the  school,  especially  with  the  reference  books  and  period- 
icals. The  works  in  history  are  also  used  frequently  by 
the  higher  grades  in  the  high  school.  The  combined  ar- 
rangement has  resulted  in  a  much  more  liberal  use  of  the 
books  of  both  libraries.  It  has  increased  the  facilities  for 
work  in  the  schools.  The  pupils  are  doing  more  outside 
reading,  and  the  older  people,  who  did  not  do  so  before,  now 
read  books  that  are  taken  home  by  the  children. 

The  library  occupies  a  room  in  the  Central  School  build- 
ing, and  is  free  to  all  pupils  and  teachers  in  the  Horton 
public  schools.  Others  may  use  the  books  who  hold  tickets, 
costing  one  dollar  each,  good  for  one  year  from  date  of 
issue. 

At  present,  the  superintendent  of  schools,  Mr.  J.  O. 
Hall,  performs  the  duties  of  librarian,  with  assistants 
chosen  from  the  high  school.  Other  librarians  have  been 
M.  D.  Spencer,  W.  P.  Todd,  Pearl  McKoin. 

The  present  Board  of  seven  trustees  consists  of  W.  P. 
Todd,  F.  M.  Wilson,  J.  O.  Hall,  E.  H.  Keller,  W.  W.  Let- 
son,  Clyde  McManigal,  C.  H.  Schneider. 

Previous  to  September,  1902,  the  cost  of  administration 
was  $600  per  year,  but  at  present  no  separate  account  is 


twtcbinsoru  37 


kept,  Daring  the  past  year  about  $100  was  spent  for  books, 
a  much  smaller  sum  than  formerly. 

There  are  about  1500  volumes  belonging  to  the  public 
library  and  1100  to  the  school,  with  a  mass  of  unbound 
material  and  many  periodicals  and  government  reports, 
100  volumes  being  added  last  year  to  the  combined  libra- 
ries. Something  more  than  3000  charges  were  made  last 
year  of  books  taken  from  the  library.  The  library  is  es- 
pecially strong  in  history,  but  has  a  greater  number  of 
volumes  in  fiction  than  in  any  other  line.  The  library  has 
two  sets  of  Johnson's  Universal  Cyclopaedia,  one  of  Peo- 
ple's Library  of  Universal  Knowledge,  Larned's  History 
for  Ready  Reference,  Appleton's  Cyclopaedia,  and  several 
atlases. 

Population,  4000;  assessed  valuation,  $1,228,429. 


HUTCHINSON. 

FREE    PUBLIC   LIBRARY. 

Hutchinson  Public  Library  was  formally  opened  Janu- 
ary 16,  1896,  by  the  Woman's  Club,  with  Miss  Ethel  Col- 
ville,  temporary  librarian.  At  first,  it  was  opened  Saturday 
afternoons  and  evenings.  It  was  a  subscription  library. 

On  the  1st  of  January,  1901,  the  club  turned  over  its 
books  to  the  city,  with  the  provision  that  six  of  the  twelve 
members  of  the  board  of  directors  should  be  from  their 
club.  The  city  then  established  a  Free  Public  Library. 

There  is  a  board  of  directors,  composed  of  twelve  ladies, 
appointed  for  a  term  of  four  years  by  the  mayor.  The 
present  board  consists  of  Mrs.  Frank  Barton,  Mrs.  W.  Y. 
Morgan,  Mrs.  J.  A.  Fontron,  Mrs.  H.  L.  Lewis,  Mrs.  E.  G. 
Hodges,  Mrs.  G.  H.  Miner,  Mrs.  F.  W.  Cooter,  Mrs.  F.  H. 
Carpenter,  Mrs.  G.  W.  Winans,  Mrs.  E.  H.  Richardson, 
Mrs.  A.  L.  Forsha,  Miss  Inez  Handy. 

The  librarians  have  been  Miss  Ethel  Colville  and  Miss 


38  Ibutcbinson. 


M.  Pearl  Leighty,  The  present  staff  is  Miss  M.  Pearl 
Leighty,  librarian ;  Miss  Lucy  E.  Leidigh,  assistant ;  and 
Miss  Helen  Miner,  substitute. 

At  present,  the  library  occupies  two  rooms  of  the  City 
Hall.  The  new  Carnegie  building,  erected  at  a  cost  of 
$15,000,  will  be  ready  for  occupancy  in  July,  1903. 

The  annual  receipts  are  $1700  per  year.  The  cost  of  ad- 
ministration last  year  was  $857.89 ;  $288.90  was  spent  for 
books  and  $61  for  binding.  Last  year,  the  librarian's  salary 
amounted  to  $251.55,  now  raised  from  $20  to  $25.  The  as- 
sistant received  $79,  but  now  has  $1  a  day,  and  works  when 
needed  by  the  librarian. 

There  are  2917  volumes,  25  periodicals,  18  newspapers; 
658  volumes  were  added  last  year. 

The  library  is  free  to  all  residents,  allowing  two  tickets 
to  a  family.  Non-residents,  by  paying  one  dollar  a  year, 
may  use  the  library. 

The  library  has  three  sets  of  encyclopedias  and  one 
Library  of  Universal  Knowledge. 

The  library  is  not  classified  now,  but  will  be  by  the 
Dewey  system.  The  catalog  is  at  present  a  printed  author 
catalog,  but  is  incomplete,  and  a  new  card  catalog  is  being 
prepared. 

Population,  10,600 ;  assessed  valuation,  $1,600,000. 


flnbepenbence,  39 


INDEPENDENCE. 

PUBLIC   LIBRARY. 

The  Ladies'  Library  Association  was  organized  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1882,  and  chartered  in  the  following  April,  with  Mrs. 
Frances  E.  Hull,  president;  Mrs.  Nellie  Williams,  vice- 
president  ;  Mrs.  Schloss,  secretary;  Mrs.  L.  C.  Mason,  treas- 
urer ;  and  trustees,  Mrs.  H.  M.  Turner,  Mrs.  M.  A.  Plank, 
Mrs.  J.  E.  Pugh,  Mrs.  Nellie  Williams,  Mrs.  Alice  Burch- 
ard,  Mrs.  F.  E.  Hull,  Mrs.  S.  0.  Herring.  The  purpose  of 
this  corporation  was  the  support  of  a  literary  society  and 
the  maintenance  of  a  library.  The  association  rents  com- 
fortable rooms,  but  is  working  for  a  library  building,  and 
has  now  a  small  fund  at  interest  for  that  purpose.  The 
only  gift  that  has  been  received  is  $250  for  the  building 
fund.  It  is  hoped  that  the  city  of  Independence  will  soon 
realize  how  great  a  benefit  a  good  library  is  to  a  growing 
town  and  assist  the  ladies  with  an  appropriation,  so  that 
the  library  may  be  kept  open  daily,  instead  of  twice  a  week 
as  at  present.  All  expenses  so  far  have  been  defrayed  by 
the  membership  dues  and  by  public  entertainments. 

The  library  now  contains  about  3500  volumes,  besides 
the  Congressional  Record,  pamphlets,  and  periodicals. 

The  present  officers  are :  President,  Mrs.  A.  O.  Stein ; 
vice-president,  Mrs.  S.  Chaney ;  secretary,  Mrs.  J.  T.  Davis ; 
treasurer,  Mrs.  J.  E.  Pugh ;  librarian,  Mrs.  H.  D.  Grout ; 
assistant  librarian,  Miss  Edith  Allen ;  trustees,  Mrs.  J.  M. 
Anderson,  Mrs.  Rufus  Williams,  Mrs.  Carrie  Devore,  Mrs. 
W.  T.  Yoe,  Mrs.  T.  B.  Covode. 


40  ikansas 


JUNCTION  CITY. 

The  Ladies'  Reading  Club  of  Junction  City  has  a  library 
belonging  exclusively  to  the  club.  Only  the  members  may 
use  the  books. 

*    ¥    V 


KANSAS  CITY. 

PUBLIC   LIBRARY. 

In  April,  1891,  by  direction  of  the  Board  of  Education, 
Superintendent  of  Schools  A.  S.  Olin,  now  Professor  of 
Education,  University  of  Kansas,  began  the  formation  of  a 
public  library,  and  several  ladies'  literary  clubs  took  active 
part.  M.  G.  Jones,  clerk  of  the  Board  of  Education,  acted 
as  librarian,  the  library  being  placed  in  a  room  adjoining 
the  clerk's  office.  A  remnant  of  books  of  the  old  Wyan- 
dotte  Library  Association,  together  with  books  from 
private  libraries,  formed  the  beginning  of  the  public 
library. 

The  library  at  present  is  governed  by  the  Board  of  Edu- 
cation. Mrs.  Sara  Judd  Greenman  is  librarian,  with  one 
assistant.  The  other  librarians  from  the  beginning  have 
been  M.  G,  Jones,  Elizabeth  M.  Dickinson,  Mary  N.  Far- 
rarr,  Mina  Lane  (now  Mrs.  Fanin). 

There  are  about  6000  volumes  in  the  library.  These 
are  being  classified  by  the  Dewey  Decimal  system.  A  dic- 
tionary card  catalog  is  also  under  way.  The  library  is 
strongest  in  history  and  travel,  and  has  a  special  musical 
library. 

The  library  is  in  a  rented  room  at  present,  but  will  soon 
occupy  its  handsome  new  building,  the  gift  of  Andrew  Car- 
negie, erected  at  a  cost  of  $75,000. 

The  library  is  now  a  subscription  library,  but  will  be- 
come a  free  public  library  when  it  moves  into  the  new 
building,  and  will  have  $7500  annually  for  maintenance. 

Population,  60,000.     Assessed  valuation,  $12,900,000. 


00 
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Xawrence,  41 


LAWRENCE. 

Haskell  Institute,  founded  1884,  under  the  auspices  of 
the  federal  government,  has  a  well-selected  library  of  1200 
volumes.  It  is  for  the  use  of  the  pupils  in  attendance  at 
the  school,  and  is  supported  out  of  the  funds  received  from 
the  appropriations  made  by  Congress. 


LAWRENCE. 

PUBLIC   LIBRARY. 

In  the  spring  of  1865,  J.  S.  Boughton  started  the  Law- 
rence Circulating  Library  with  about  $150  worth  of  books. 

It  was  situated  in  the  Hartman  building,  over  the  store 
now  accupied  by  Wm.  Hoadley.  The  room  was  open  on 
Wednesday  and  Saturday  afternoons.  Books  were  loaned 
at  the  rate  of  ten  cents  per  week  or  two  weeks  for  fifteen 
cents.  Annual  tickets  were  five  dollars.  The  library  was 
well  patronized  and  it  was  not  unusual  to  close  the  book- 
case on  empty  shelves. 

In  December  1865,  a  larger  room  was  secured  over  the 
George  Leis  drug  store  (now  occupied  by  John  Shim- 
mons).  For  nearly  a  year,  Mr.  Boughton  furnished  a  free 
reading-room,  open  day  and  evening  ( Sunday  excepted ), 
in  connection  with  his  circulating  library.  It  was  well 
patronized,  but  the  expense  was  too  great  to  make  it  remu- 
nerative. He,  therefore,  undertook  to  make  it  a  public  in- 
stitution by  getting  a  few  of  the  leading  citizens  to  found 
a  Library  Association.  After  many  discouragements  he 
was  successful. 

The  late  B.  W.  Woodward  was  the  first  president.  Dr. 
Richard  Cordley,  W.  A.  Simpson  and  H.  W.  Chester  were 
among  the  first  directors.  Mrs.  Helen  M.  Griswold,  now 


42  Xawrence. 


Mrs.  George  A.  Banks,  was  the  first  librarian,  She  was 
succeeded  by  Mrs.  Rhoda  J.  Trask. 

Mrs.  Mary  F.  Simpson,  who  held  the  position  for  seven- 
teen years,  was  the  next  librarian.  She  resigned  about  a 
year  ago,  and  Mrs.  Nellie  Griswold  Beatty,  the  present  libra- 
rian, was  appointed. 

Mr.  Boughton  sold  the  library  and  fixtures  to  the  asso- 
ciation for  $500.  There  were  about  1000  volumes  at  that 
time.  The  association  secured  the  money  necessary  by 
selling  100  annual  tickets  at  $5  each. 

The  library  was  afterward  turned  over  to  the  city  of  Law- 
rence on  condition  that  it  be  suitably  maintained.  For  a 
number  of  years,  the  library  rented  the  large  room  now 
occupied  by  the  Gazette.  For  the  last  decade,  it  has  had 
the  three  rooms  on  the  second  floor  rear  of  the  Lawrence 
National  Bank  building.  The  first  room  is  a  newspaper 
room  and  part  of  the  second  is  reading-room.  The  remain- 
der is  fenced  off  by  a  railing.  The  librarian's  desk  is  here. 
Back  of  this  is  the  third  room,  which  contains  the  greater 
number  of  the  bookcases.  The  books  have  been  re -clas- 
sified by  the  Dewey  system  recently.  A  typewritten  card 
catalog  will  be  begun  shortly.  In  the  past,  several  printed 
lists  have  been  issued.  The  library  now- owns  about  6000 
volumes  in  fit  condition  for  circulation.  In  an  attempt  to 
solve  the  current-fiction  problem,  a  subscription  to  the 
Tabard  Inn  Library  has  been  maintained  the  past  year. 

When  the  library  moved  into  its  present  quarters  it  had 
a  house-warming — a  public  reception  at  which  many 
early  settlers  were  present.  Several  pictures  have  been 
given  by  patrons  of  the  library.  A  collection  of  books  and 
a  portrait  in  oil  of  the  Hon.  Amos  A.  Lawrence,  in  whose 
honor  the  town  was  named,  have  been  given  by  the  Law- 
rence family.  Governor  and  Mrs.  Robinson  have  made 
several  notable  gifts. 

At  the  spring  election,  1903,  the  proposition  to  accept 
the  offer  of  Mr.  Andrew  Carnegie  and  place  the  library  un- 
der the  state  law,  was  carried.  The  mayor  then  appointed 
the  board  of  directors  as  provided  by  law.  They  have  met 
and  organized,  appointed  a  building  committee,  adopted  a 


Xawrence,  43 


plan  for  the  library  and  selected  the  architect,  Mr.  Ber- 
linghof. 

Mrs.  Chas.  P.  Grovenor  has  given  as  a  memorial  to  her 
husband,  the  late  Chas.  P.  Grovenor,  the  site  for  the  new 
building  at  the  northwest  corner  of  Vermont  and  Henry 
streets.  This  situation  will  make  the  library  accessible  to 
a  large  number  of  teachers  and  public-school  pupils,  as 
well  as  to  the  citizens  generally. 

The  board  of  directors  consists  of  Mr.  Gurdon  Grovenor, 
president;  Mr.  J.  D.  Bowersock,  Mr.  Wm.  Bromelsick, 
Mr.  Peter  E.  Emery,  Mr.  A.  L.  Cox,  Mr.  Geo.  R.  Gould, 
Mr.  J.  R.  Griggs,  Mr.  A.  J.  Dicker,  the  Rev.  W.  G.  Banker, 
Mr.  C.  S.  Hall,  Mrs.  A.  Henley,  Dr.  E.  Bumgardner  and 
Mr.  A.  L.  Selig,  ex  officio. 

Population,  11,436 ;  assessed  valuation,  $1,839,672. 


¥    ¥    ¥ 


LAWRENCE. 

LIBRARY  OF  THE   UNIVERSITY  OF   KANSAS. 

The  history  of  the  Library  of  the  University  of  Kansas 
dates  from  the  establishment  of  the  University  itself. 
March  21,  1865,  the  first  Board  of  Regents  elected  one  of 
its  members,  J.  S.  Emery,  librarian.  He  was  re-elected 
December  6,  1865,  and  July  18,  1866,  and  continued  to  be 
librarian  until  1868.  Another  Regent,  W.  C.  Tenney,  held 
the  office  from  1868  to  1869.  The  care  of  the  library  was 
then  given  over  to  a  member  of  the  faculty.  Frank  H. 
Snow,  Professor  of  Natural  History,  was  elected  librarian 
December  1,  1869,  and  re-elected  December  7,  1870.  He 
resigned  September  3,  1873.  Byron  C.  Smith,  Professor 
of  Greek,  was  made  librarian  for  the  next  year.  January 
1,  1875,  E.  Miller,  Professor  of  Mathematics,  accepted  the 
position,  and  discharged  the  duties  for  twelve  years,  until 
his  resignation,  April  1,  1887.  Up  to  this  date  the  libra- 


44  Xawrence* 


rians  were  professors  who  had  a  limited  amount  of  time  to 
devote  to  the  library.  At  this  time,  Carrie  M.  Watson,  a 
graduate  of  the  University,  was  elected  to  take  entire 
charge  of  the  library.  She  is  still  librarian.  The  library 
staff  also  includes  Helen  B.  Sutliff,  elected  1890;  Clara  S. 
Gillham,  elected  1893 ;  Edith  M.  Clarke,  elected  1895 ;  Dora 
C.  Renn,  elected  1899.  There  are  also  several  student  as- 
sistants. Mabel  C.  Rogers,  now  Mrs.  Edward  T.  Hackney, 
was  an  assistant  librarian  from  1893  to  1900. 

The  library  may  be  said  to  have  started  with  nothing 
but  a  hope,  a  hope  that  an  appropriation  for  books  would 
be  made,  or  that  some  generous  friend  would  endow  or  be- 
queath a  library.  At  the  formal  opening  of  the  Univer- 
sity, a  few  congressional  books  were  the  only  volumes  in 
the  library.  Indeed,  the  duties  of  the  librarians  until  1873 
were  chiefly  to  represent  the  institution  in  order  that  pub- 
lic documents  and  private  gifts  might  be  received.  The 
growth  of  the  library  for  the  first  seven  years  of  its  nomi- 
nal existence  was  so  slow  as  to  be  almost  imperceptible. 
This  is  shown  by  the  following  paragraph  which  appeared 
regularly  in  the  annual  catalogues  for  six  years,  from  1867 
to  1873:  "The  nucleus  of  a  library  has  been  secured,  to 
which  additions  will  be  made.  At  present,  the  students  are 
permitted  to  avail  themselves  of  the  private  libraries  of  the 
faculty."  In  1873,  the  legislature  appropriated  $1500  to 
be  devoted  exclusively  to  the  purchase  of  books.  Prof. 
Byron  C.  Smith,  in  1874,  reported  that  there  were  less  than 
1000  volumes  in  the  library.  From  this  time,  the  growth 
of  the  library  became  more  apparent.  The  long-derided 
nucleus  was  developing.  In  1879,  there  were  3000  volumes ; 
in  1881,  4500;  in  1885,  7000;  in  1889, 11,000;  in  1890, 12,- 
500 ;  in  1895,  23,000 ;  in  1900,  35,237 ;  and  now  41,000,  at 
the  end  of  the  fiscal  year  1902-'03. 

At  the  opening  of  the  University  the  library  was  housed 
in  the  southwest  room  on  the  second  floor  of  the  first  build- 
ing. When  the  University  removed  from  the  old  build- 
ing to  the  new  one — now  called  Eraser  Hall — in  1872,  the 
"nucleus"  was  arranged  on  shelves  in  room  No.  4,  now  the 
Chancellor's  office.  The  senior  classes  were  allowed  the 


Xawrence,  45 


use  of  this  room,  It  was  of  little  benefit  to  them,  however, 
and  the  reading  by  the  students  of  this  period  was  done  in 
the  city  library  and  in  the  libraries  of  the  professors. 

In  September,  1877,  the  books  were  transferred  to  room 
No.  14,  the  west  room  of  the  south  wing,  on  the  first  floor, 
now  Professor  Dunlap's  lecture-room.  The  room  was  fitted 
up  with  alcoves  and  tables.  There  were  2519  volumes  at 
this  time.  The  library  was  now  open  to  all  the  students 
from  nine  A.  M.  to  one  p.  M.  The  library  remained  in  this 
room  until  there  were  8035  volumes.  It  became  so  crowded 
that  it  was  necessary  to  move  into  larger  quarters,  which 
were  secured  in  the  north  end  of  the  main  building.  One 
room  at  the  extreme  north  end  of  the  main  building,  on 
the  first  floor,  was  filled  with  alcoves  to  hold  the  books. 
Part  of  the  corridor  was  partitioned  off  and  shelves  put  in 
place  for  the  public  documents.  A  third  room,  No.  9,  was 
made  general  reading-room.  It  was  connected  with  the 
book-room,  and  the  delivery  desk  was  placed  at  the  door- 
way between  the  rooms.  Only  juniors  and  seniors  were 
allowed  access  to  the  book-room.  Other  students  were 
handed  books  upon  request  at  the  delivery  desk.  In  the 
fall  of  1889,  great  need  was  felt  for  more  room,  and  No.  8 
was  secured.  The  library  then  occupied  the  entire  north 
wing  of  Fraser  Hall.  The  library  at  this  date  was  sup- 
plied with  140  American  and  foreign  periodicals  and  60 
state  newspapers.  There  was  a  good  collection  of  cyclo- 
pedias and  other  reference  books.  The  library  was  avail- 
able more  hours  than  before,  being  open  from  nine  A.  M.  to 
six  P.  M.,  except  on  Saturdays,  when  it  was  open  from  nine 
A.  M.  to  twelve  M.  The  library  remained  here  until  it  moved 
into  the  new  building,  in  August,  1894. 

The  new  library  building,  erected  1894,  at  a  cost  of 
$75,000,  the  bequest  of  William  B.  Spooner,  of  Boston, 
Mass.,  is  a  substantial  structure  of  native  limestone,  with 
Dakota  red  sandstone  trimmings,  and  is  a  pleasing  example 
of  the  Romanesque  style  of  architecture  of  southern  France. 
Messrs.  Van  Brunt  and  Howe,  of  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  were 


46  Xawrence* 


the  architects.     Engraved  on  a  tablet  on  the  front  of  the 
portico  is  this  inscription  : 

Erected  in  1894,  by  the  generosity  of 

WILLIAM  B.  SPOONER,  of  Boston,  Mass.,  Merchant 

and  Philanthropist.     Born  1806.    Died  1880. 

The  building  was  dedicated  and  formally  opened  Octo- 
ber 17,  1894. 

A  portrait  of  Mr.  Spooner  hangs  in  the  hall  over  the  en- 
trance to  the  general  reading-room  and  directly  opposite 
the  main  entrance.  The  building  is  112  feet  in  length  by 
50  feet  in  width,  and  is  two  stories  high,  with  a  basement. 
The  fire-proof  book  stack  is  an  integral  part  of  the  build- 
ing, but  is  cut  off  from  the  main  part  by  iron  doors.  The 
building  is  well  adapted  to  the  purposes  for  which  it  was 
designed.  A  main  hall  at  the  entry  gives  access  to  the  gen- 
eral reading-room,  to  the  departmental  reading-room  on 
the  upper  floor,  and  the  other  departmental  reading-rooms 
on  the  lower  floor.  The  interior  is  finished  throughout  in 
Tennessee  ash.  The  catalog-case,  the  tables,  chairs  and 
shelving  in  the  general  reading-room  and  in  the  depart- 
mental rooms  are  of  this  wood  also.  The  reading-rooms 
are  lighted  from  windows  placed  seven  feet  from  the  floor 
and  by  electric  bulbs  placed  at  intervals  on  the  ceiling  and 
the  side  walls.  The  walls  are  painted  terra-cotta  and  the 
ceiling  a  slate  color.  The  effect  is  best  in  the  general 
reading-room  when  the  200  electric  bulbs  are  lighted.  The 
librarian's  and  cataloguer's  offices  are  the  semicircles  on 
the  east  corners  of  the  reading-room,  and  have  glass  par- 
titions on  the  reading-room  side.  The  delivery  desk  is 
placed  at  the  east  end  of  the  reading-room  and  connects 
with  the  stack-room  in  the  rear.  The  book  lifts  are  placed 
in  this  wall  to  facilitate  communication  with  the  stack- 
room,  the  delivery  desk,  and  the  upper  and  lower  floors. 

The  entire  north  wall  of  the  reading-room  is  filled  with 
shelving  for  the  reference  books.  Here  are  kept  convenient 
for  general  use  1000  volumes,  comprising  the  leading  en- 
cyclopedias, English,  American,  and  foreign,  with  gazet- 
teers, atlases,  handbooks,  dictionaries,  and  indexes.  On  this 
side,  also,  at  the  east  end  is  the  catalog  case  with  a  ca- 


Xawrence,  47 


pacity  of  180,000  cards.  The  upper  part  of  this  case  is 
used  as  a  display  shelf  for  the  newest  books.  On  the  south 
side  of  the  reading-room  are  alcoves  designed  for  individual 
work,  but  at  present  used  as  reserve  divisions  for  different 
classes.  Opening  into  the  reading-room  at  the  southwest 
corner  is  the  newspaper  room,  where  the  current  numbers 
of  158  state  newspapers  are  on  file.  In  this  room  are  cases 
for  the  568  periodicals  and  learned- society  publications 
received  by  the  library.  There  are  two  cases  also  on  the 
west  wall  of  the  reading-room  for  periodicals.  Opening 
into  the  reading-room  on  the  northwest  corner,  is  the  gen- 
eral administrative  room,  where  the  mail  is  opened  and 
recorded,  volumes  made  up  for  the  bindery,  books  collated, 
classified,  accessioned  and  recorded  in  shelf  lists  previous 
to  cataloguing. 

The  large  room  on  the  upper  floor  directly  over  the  gen- 
eral reading-room  is  fitted  up  with  tables,  chairs  and  steel 
stacking  for  the  use  of  the  departments  of  sociology, 
economics,  history,  European  and  American. 

The  basement  floor  is  devoted  to  the  departmental  read- 
ing-rooms, German,  Latin,  philosophy,  English,  the  Kan- 
sas University  Quarterly  office,  and  a  rest-room  for  young 
women.  The  departmental  reading-rooms  are  used  by  the 
students  in  advanced  courses,  who  find  books  placed  on  the 
shelves  in  these  rooms  according  to  the  class  work  in  the 
different  departments. 

The  stack-room  has  a  capacity  of  100,000  volumes,  20,- 
000  to  each  floor.  The  stack  is  built  on  the  downward 
slope  of  the  hill  and  has  five  stories,  each  eight  feet  high, 
exposed  on  three  sides  to  the  light  and  air.  Ordinarily,  a 
title  may  be  read  at  any  point  in  the  stack,  but  electric 
bulbs  are  hung  in  each  alcove  to  aid  the  sight  on  dark 
days.  The  stack  has  no  woodwork  about  its  construction 
except  the  window-frames  and  shelving.  The  ironwork 
and  the  walls  are  painted  white.  The  stacking  is  of  iron 
and  designed  by  Mr.  Van  Brunt  after  his  Harvard  stack. 
It  was  cast  at  Mr.  Seaton's  foundry,  Atchison,  Kan.  Aside 
from  this  fire- proof  stack,  there  is  a  vault  with  a  combina- 


48  Xawrence* 


tion  lock  for  the  safe-keeping  of  rare  manuscripts  and 
books. 

The  library  is  classified  by  the  Dewey  system  and  has  a 
dictionary  card  catalog.  The  charging  system  for  the  loan 
of  books  was  arranged  by  Prof.  L.  I.  Blake,  and  shows 
what  books  in  each  class  are  out,  who  has  them,  and  when 
they  will  be  due.  It  is  a  good  working  system.  The  li- 
brary is  open  every  week-day  from  eight  A.  M.  to  six  p.  M., 
except  Saturdays,  when  it  is  open  from  eight  A.  M.  to 
twelve  M.  It  is  also  open  in  the  evening  from  seven  to 
ten  during  the  regular  session. 

With  the  exception  of  the  gift  of  Mr.  Spooner,  the  most 
noteworthy  gift  to  the  library  is  the  bust  of  Louisa  M.  Al- 
cott,  presented  by  the  sculptor,  Mr.  E.  F.  Elwell,  of  New 
York  city.  He  gave  later  a  bust  of  Mr.  F.  B.  Sanborn,  a 
copy  of  the  bronze  one  in  the  rooms  of  the  State  Histor- 
ical Society,  Topeka.  The  class  of  1901  gave  a  bust  of 
Ralph  Waldo  Emerson.  These  busts  are  placed  on  brack- 
ets at  conspicuous  points  in  the  reading-room. 

Commencement,  1903,  the  Kappa  Alpha  Theta  Frater- 
nity, of  the  University  of  Kansas,  gave  to  the  library  $500 
as  a  memorial  for  Mrs.  May  Sexton  Agnew.  The  interest 
of  this  fund  is  to  be  used  for  the  purchase  of  books  in 
English  literature.  These  books  will  be  designated  by  a 
specially  designed  book-plate. 

The  library  uses  a  book-plate  designed  by  Mrs.  A.  R. 
Marsh  for  its  other  gift  books. 

The  Board  of  Regents  has  apportioned  $7000  for  the 
purchase  of  books  the  coming  year.  This  is  a  larger  sum 
than  has  been  received  heretofore. 

The  library  is  necessarily  strong  on  departmental  lines, 
as  the  books  are  selected  by  the  head  professors  of  the  dif- 
ferent departments,  in  accordance  with  the  various  needs 
of  their  classes.  The  English  department  has  an  excellent 
selection  of  works  and  has  been  further  strengthened  by 
the  purchase  of  the  publications  of  the  Old  English  Text 
Society,  the  Spenser  Society,  the  Chaucer  Society,  the 
Shakespeare  Society  and  the  New  Shakespeare  Society, 


Xawrence,  49 


the  Shakespeare  Gesellschaft,  the  Camden  Society,  the 
Shelley  Society,  the  Browning  Society. 

The  French,  German,  Latin  and  Greek  departments  are 
well  supplied  with  the  standard  works  and  with  collateral 
material  for  their  work. 

The  scientific  departments  have  been  acquiring  complete 
sets  of  transactions  and  journals  of  a  technical  nature  valu- 
able for  reference  and  necessary  in  research  work. 

The  departments  of  history,  sociology  and  economics  are 
well  equipped  with  the  standard  reference  works  and  the 
leading  reviews  and  journals  devoted  to  these  special  topics. 
In  addition,  almost  all  the  periodicals  indexed  by  the  An- 
nual Indexes  are  available  to  the  student. 

The  library  has  a  number  of  books  bearing  very  early 
imprints,  the  earliest  being  1517.  There  are  a  few  hand- 
somely bound  volumes,  but  the  only  example  of  the  work 
of  a  famous  binder  is  a  set  bound  by  Tout.  The  most 
curious  work  owned  by  the  library  is  the  Tripitaka,  in 
thirty-seven  volumes,  presented  by  the  King  of  Siam  to  the 
University.  There  are  several  books  having  the  autographs 
of  great  persons,  notably  that  of  Queen  Victoria  in  a  pres- 
entation copy.  The  library  has  a  good  collection  of  Kan- 
sas material,  especially  of  the  state  and  territorial  documents. 
The  collection  of  federal  documents  is  excellent,  and  in- 
cludes a  number  of  sets  not  often  found,  except  in  the 
largest  libraries  in  the  country.  They  are  frequently  con- 
sulted. 

There  are  also  the  Haskell  Loan  Library  and  the  Stimp- 
son  Loan  Library. 

The  Law  Library  is  placed  in  the  old  library  quarters, 
in  the  north  wing  of  Fraser  Hall,  and  includes  the  prin- 
cipal reference  works  and  complete  sets  of  many  of  the 
state  reports.  It  is  so  situated  for  convenience  of  reference. 

Every  year  an  elementary  course  in  library  economy  is 
given  to  the  outgoing  class  in  the  department  of  education. 
This  course  is  designed  especially  to  help  those  teachers 
who  will  have  charge  of  high-school  libraries,  and  includes 
lectures  on  the  selection  of  books,  library  legislation,  the 
ordering  of  books,  accessioning,  classification,  cataloguing, 


50  ,    Xeavenwortb, 

charging  systems,  reference  lists.  Students  are  given 
problems  to  work  out,  and  are  required,  besides,  to  pre- 
pare a  paper  on  some  library  topic,  such  as  the  organiza- 
tion of  a  public  or  a  school  library. 

Every  year,  also,  a  lecture  is  given*  to  the  sophomore 
class  on  the  use  of  the  library. 


LEA  YEN  WORTH. 

FREE   PUBLIC   LIBRARY. 

The  library  was  the  outcome  of  a  determined  effort  of 
the  women's  clubs  of  Leavenworth.  A  library  association 
was  organized  in  November,  1895,  composed  of  three  repre- 
sentatives from  each  literary  club.  Books  to  the  number 
of  700  were  given  or  purchased,  and  on  January  14,  1896, 
the  library  was  opened  in  a  room  in  the  Ryan  building  for 
which  no  rent  was  charged.  It  was  established  as  a  sub- 
scription library,  at  a  charge  of  one  dollar  per  year.  The 
membership  rose  rapidly  to  300,  when  it  began  to  decline 
until  only  half  that  number  held  tickets.  Ten  months 
later  the  books  were  removed  to  a  room  in  the  court-house, 
with  light  and  heat  furnished  and  no  charge  made  for 
rent,  so  that  nearly  the  entire  amount  received  from  the 
sale  of  memberships  went  into  the  purchase  of  books.  The 
library  was  kept  open  twice  a  week,  and  the  librarians'  ser- 
vices were  entirely  gratis,  they  being  assisted  by  some  of 
the  board  members  and  by  all  the  members  of  the  Whit- 
tier  Club. 

In  the  spring  of  1899,  the  city  voted  to  assess  a  tax  for 
the  support  of  a  free  library,  and  later  in  the  year  the 
women's  clubs  raised  the  sum  of  $3000  as  a  beginning  to- 
wards a  building.  In  January,  1900,  the  new  Board  of 
Directors,  appointed  by  the  mayor,  received  the  books  and 
furniture  of  the  library  as  a  gift  from  the  former  board. 
A  librarian,  the  one  who  had  served  during  the  preceding 


Xeavenwortb.  51 

three  years,  was  appointed,  a  few  new  books  purchased, 
and  on  February  1,  1900,  the  Leaven  worth  Free  Public 
Library  was  opened  in  the  same  old  quarters  at  the  court- 
house. There  were  2262  books  on  the  shelves,  rudely 
classified,  and  recorded  only  in  the  accession  register. 

During  the  month  of  January,  a  communication  had 
been  received  from  Mr.  Andrew  Carnegie  offering  the  sum 
of  $25,000  for  a  library  building.  This  offer  was  accepted 
by  the  city  council,  and  later  the  amount  was  increased  to 
$30,000.  The  board  now  gave  its  attention  almost  exclu- 
sively to  the  building. 

On  December  14,  1901,  the  library  was  closed  for  re-or- 
ganization. The  books  were  classified  by  the  D.  C.  system. 
The  librarian  had  spent  eight  weeks  of  the  previous  sum- 
mer at  the  Wisconsin  Summer  Library  School,  at  Madison, 
where  she  received  practical  information  as  to  the  working 
of  a  library.  An  assistant  librarian  was  appointed.  About 
2000  new  books  were  purchased  and  made  ready  for  circu- 
lation. A  shelf  list  was  prepared,  but  lack  of  time  and  as- 
sistance still  compelled  the  making  of  a  catalog  to  be  a 
thing  of  the  future. 

On  May  1,  1902,  the  new  building  was  opened  with  a 
public  reception.  The  building  is  classical  in  design,  is 
built  of  gray  brick  and  Bedford  stone,  with  gray  terra- cotta 
trimmings,  includes  a  large  reading-room  two  stories  high, 
a  smaller  periodical  room,  a  very  small  room  for  the  chil- 
dren, an  office,  a  corridor,  toilet-rooms,  and  stack  on  the 
first  floor ;  a  club- room  and  large  corridor  on  the  second 
floor ;  a  large  workroom,  janitor's  room,  boiler-room,  closet 
and  toilet-room  in  the  basement.  The  stack  is  fire-proof, 
and  is  cut  off  from  the  main  building  by  a  passage  closed 
with  a  fire-curtain.  The  floors  of  the  main  building,  with 
the  exception  of  the  front  corridor,  which  is  tiled,  are  cov- 
ered with  cork  carpet,  and  the  furniture  is  of  natural  oak, 
to  match  the  woodwork  used  in  the  finishing  of  the  build- 
ing. The  furniture  and  the  book  stacks  were  made  by  the 
Library  Bureau.  There  is  a  high  delivery  desk  or  counter 
across  the  corridor,  so  that  it  is  not  practicable  to  give  ac- 
cess to  the  shelves,  although  the  children's  books  are  on 
open  shelves  in  the  small  room.  The  library  stands  on  a 


52  Xeavenwortb* 

plot  150  x  140  feet,  and  was  purchased  at  a  cost  of  $3200, 
raised  by  subscription.  The  furniture  was  paid  for  out 
of  the  funds  raised  by  the  women's  clubs. 

October  1,  1902,  Miss  Edith  A,  King,  of  Jackson,  Mich., 
was  employed  for  three  months  as  a  cataloguer.  She  has 
catalogued  the  books  on  slips,  analyzing  carefully,  and  from 
these  slips  cards  are  now  being  typewritten  by  the  library 
staff,  and  will  be  arranged  in  dictionary  form  as  soon  as 
completed. 

On  the  1st  of  December,  1902,  there  were  6349  volumes 
in  the  library,  and  1629  borrowers'  cards  had  been  issued. 

The  board  of  directors  is  appointed  by  the  mayor  and 
consists  of  twelve  persons,  with  the  mayor  as  ex  officio  mem- 
ber. Each  member  is  appointed  for  a  term  of  four  years, 
and  three  members  are  appointed  each  year,  The  present 
board  consists  of  Melvin  L.  Hacker,  president ;  James  A. 
McGonigle,  vice-president ;  Mrs.  Mary  Fitz- William  Car- 
ney, secretary;  Mrs.  Florence  M.  Hopkins,  Mrs.  E.  W. 
Snyder,  Mrs.  Nellie  Daniels,  Mrs.  David  Kelso,  Mrs.  Har- 
vey W.  Ide,  Miss  Katherine  Becker,  Mr.  Alonzo  J.  Tullock, 
Mr.  William  C.  Schott,  Mr.  Alexander  Caldwell,  and  Mayor 
Jepp  Ryan. 

The  working  force  of  the  library  consists  of  the  librarian, 
an  assistant,  and  a  janitor.  Mrs.  Rhoda  E.  Mickle  was  the 
librarian  in  1896,  and  Miss  Syrena  McKee  has  held  the 
position  since  that  time. 

The  city  council  is  pledged  to  assess  an  annual  tax  of 
$3000  for  the  support  of  the  library.  It  is  intended  that 
about  $1500  will  be  expended  in  new  books.  There  is  a 
good  collection  of  biography,  literature,  and  history,  with 
an  excellent  selection  of  general  reference  works.  There  is 
relatively  a  small  proportion  of  fiction.  The  Tabard  Inn 
service  has  recently  been  put  in  as  an  experiment  for  solv- 
ing the  duplicate-fiction  problem.  There  will  be  250  books 
per  year,  most  of  which  will  be  late  fiction,  duplicated  as 
many  times  as  seems  necessary. 

The  sum  annually  appropriated  for  salaries  at  the  pres- 
ent time  is  $1620. 

Population,  20,882;  assessed  valuation,  $5,690,671. 


53 


FORT  LEA  YEN  WORTH. 

UNITED    STATES   PENITENTIARY   LIBRARY. 

The  library  was  started  in  1875.  There  is  no  specified 
sum  for  purchase  of  books,  except  such  as  may  be  author- 
ized by  the  attorney-general.  There  are  6852  volumes,  of 
which  1871  were  added  last  year.  The  library  is  owned  by 
the  government  and  the  prisoners  have  free  use  of  the 
books.  The  circulation  is  about  2500  monthly.  Chaplain 
F.  J.  Leavitt  is  librarian,  with  three  assistants. 


¥    ¥    ¥ 


LINDSBORG. 

LIBRARY   OF   BETHANY   COLLEGE. 

The  library  of  Bethany  College  was  established  in  1881. 
There  are  no  records  of  the  first  year,  but  in  December, 
1882,  the  library  contained  six  volumes.  In  January,  1883, 
the  first  state  reports  were  received,  thirty  in  number.  In 
1886,  the  main  building  was  erected,  and  the  institu- 
tion, which  had  previous  to  this  been  an  academy,  was 
made  a  college.  The  library  having  rapidly  increased  du- 
ring four  years,  was  given  a  room  on  the  first  floor,  which 
it  still  occupies,  with  the  addition  of  a  reading-room.  No 
money  was  appropriated  for  the  library,  and  it  depended 
entirely  on  subscriptions  and  gifts.  In  1895,  however,  it 
already  numbered  3000  volumes,  and  since  then  it  has  in- 
creased so  rapidly  that  new  quarters  will  soon  be  a  necessity. 

The  year  1901-'02  was  an  unusually  fortunate  one.  Mr. 
P.  T.  Berg,  of  Munhall,  Pa.,  made  a  very  valuable  gift  of 
almost  1000  volumes.  It  is  a  Swedish  collection  and  com- 
prises select  works  from  all  epochs  of  Swedish  literature 
and  history,  as  well  as  much  of  the  old  Icelandic  and  Nor- 
wegian. In  the  spring,  the  Crans  law  library  of  600  volumes 


54 


was  purchased  by  the  College.  During  the  year,  about  400 
other  books,  mostly  in  science  and  literature,  had  been  re- 
ceived, making  the  increase  for  the  year  about  2000  vol- 
umes. The  total  number  of  books  in  the  library  is  now 
7500 ;  pamphlets,  3000. 

The  library  owns  sixteen  sets  of  encyclopedias,  two  sets 
in  the  Swedish  language,  and  other  reference  books.  Rela- 
tively, the  departments  of  literature  and  history  are  more 
complete,  while  science  is  not  so  well  equipped.  Circula- 
tion of  books  is  not  large.  The  library  is  especially  strong 
in  law  and  reference  books,  is  classified  according  to  the 
Dewey  decimal  system,  and  has  a  subject  card  catalog,  the 
dictionary  and  author  catalog  not  yet  being  completed. 

The  library  contains  a  special  collection  of  old  and  rare 
books,  numbering  482  volumes.  Of  these,  only  a  few  were 
printed  as  late  as  1800.  Seven  were  printed  during  the 
sixteenth  century,  forty-four  during  the  seventeenth  cen- 
tury. One  bears  the  date  of  1510.  The  collection  con- 
tains the  original  edition  of  one  of  Philip  Melanchthon's 
works,  one  of  John  Dryden's,  Samuel  Johnson's,  Joseph 
Addison's,  and  several  others.  There  are  six  volumes  of 
the  American  Archives.  1774-'76,  several  histories  from  the 
seventeenth  and  eighteenth  centuries,  and  periodicals  a 
century  old.  Madame  Sevigne*'s  works,  in  nine  volumes, 
one  of  the  earliest  editions,  and  Condelac's  Course  of  Study 
in  fourteen  volumes,  also  one  of  the  early  editions,  are 
found  in  the  collection.  There  is  a  complete  set  of  the 
Britannica,  second  edition,  and  one  of  Chambers'  fourth 
edition,  in  two  volumes,  dated  respectively  1841  and  1843. 
There  are  several  manuscripts,  Paracelsus  on  Chemistry, 
dated  1600,  Spinoza's  Philosophy,  copied  during  the  sev- 
enteenth century,  notes  from  the  lectures  of  Dr.  Benjamin 
Rush,  from  the  latter  part  of  the  eighteenth  century,  and 
others  of  minor  importance.  The  library  contains  also  the 
Svante  Palm  music  collection,  consisting  of  about  200  vol- 
umes, manuscripts,  and  other  rarities. 

The  library  is  governed  indirectly  by  the  Board  of  Di- 
rectors of  the  College,  directly  by  a  library  committee  con- 
sisting of  three  members  of  the  college  faculty.  The 


flDcjpberson*  55 


librarians  since  the  beginning  have  been :  Victor  Lund, 
Martin  Osterholm,  N.  A.  Kranz,  K.  Dome  Geza,  P.  H.  Pear- 
son, 1882-'93 ;  Frank  Nelson,  1893-'95 ;  G.  A.  Swallander, 
1895-'97;  George  Hapgood,  1897-'99;  P.  H.  Pearson, 
1899-'01 ;  Garald  Gallander,  1901 ;  Tillie  E.  Nelson,  1901-. 


McPHERSON. 

M'PHERSON  LIBRARY. 

The  library  and  reading-rooms  were  formally  opened  on 
the  1st  of  March,  1902,  but  the  books  in  the  library  were 
not  issued  to  subscribers  until  the  3d  of  May.  The  ladies' 
clubs  of  the  city  have  been  foremost  in  the  library  move- 
ment, and  liberal  subscriptions  have  been  received  from 
the  business  men. 

The  library  rooms,  which  are  situated  on  the  second  floor 
of  the  court-house,  are  large,  light  and  airy,  heated  by 
furnace  and  lighted  by  electricity.  The  use  of  these  rooms, 
with  heat  and  light,  is  given  rent  free  by  the  county.  Be- 
fore opening,  on  March  1,  a  reception  was  held  in  the  court- 
room, where  ice-cream,  cake  and  coffee  were  served  by  the 
ladies,  and  fruit  punch  by  the  young  ladies  of  the  town. 
Quite  a  sum  of  money  was  realized  from  this.  In  addition, 
each  person  who  came  to  the  reception  was  expected  to 
bring  a  book  to  give  to  the  city  library.  By  this  plan, 
nearly  200  books  were  secured.  There  are  now  nearly  600 
books.  About  $150  has  been  spent  for  books,  and  several 
yearly  subscriptions  to  periodicals  have  been  received.  A 
complete  set  of  Encyclopaedia  Britannica  was  given. 

Library  is  open  every  day  except  Sunday,  from  2:00  to 
5:30  and  from  7:00  to  9:30  P.  M. 

There  is  no  printed  catalog  as  yet,  but  lists  of  books 
have  been  printed  in  the  Daily  Republican,  and  these  lists 
will  be  made  into  booklets  for  use  in  the  library. 

The  use  of  the  books  is  limited  to  the  members  of  the 


56  flDanbattaru 


association,  who  pay  a  fee  of  one  dollar  per  year,  or  to  bor- 
rowers, who  pay  ten  cents  per  week. 

The  association  membership  is  192,  with  many  more  in 
prospect  for  the  new  year.  There  are  several  ten  dollars 
per  year  subscribers,  or  those  who  pledge  to  pay  the  sum 
of  ten  dollars  yearly  for  three  years.  A  committee  of  men 
has  arranged  this  three-year  plan,  and  by  the  end  of  that 
time  it  is  hoped  that  the  library  will  be  firmly  established. 
The  total  receipts  amount  to  about  $300,  which  is  all  ex- 
pended in  books. 

There  are  twelve  members  of  the  library  board.  The 
trustees  are  elected  for  one  and  two  years.  The  present 
board  consists  of  trustees  Mrs.  Kidd,  Mr.  Gratton,  Mrs. 
Champlin,  Mrs.  Berg,  Mr.  Krehbiel,  Mr.  Bradley;  Mrs. 
Bixby,  president ;  Mrs.  Kichard  Miller,  first  vice-president ; 
Miss  Lillian  Barber,  second  vice-president;  Miss  Mabel 
Cottingham,  secretary ;  Mrs.  J.  C.  Hall,  corresponding  sec- 
retary ;  and  Miss  Sarah  Miller,  treasurer. 

The  assessed  valuation  is  $593,045,  and  the  population 
is  3304. 


¥    ¥ 


MANHATTAN. 

FREE   PUBLIC   LIBRARY. 

In  1857,  Manhattan  Institute  was  incorporated  by  C. 
E.  Blood,  Washington  Marlatt,  E.  M.  Thurston,  Albert 
Griffin,  Andrew  Scammon,  A.  J.  Mead,  Ira  Taylor,  J.  D. 
Woodworth,  having  as  its  objects  "the  promotion  of  science, 
literature,  and  the  arts,  by  establishing  a  school  of  design, 
by  literary  exercises,  papers  in  philosophy  and  science, 
collecting  specimens  in  natural  history,  and  securing  an 
extensive  library,"  etc.  The  first  record  on  file  of  a  meet- 
ing of  the  society  is  that  of  December  1,  1868.  The  meet- 
ings were  held  in  the  various  places  of  business  of  the 
members.  Soon  after,  entertainments  became  a  common 


flfoanbattaru  57 


feature.  New  members  came  in  slowly  until  about  1873, 
when  a  number  of  ladies  joined. 

It  was  not  long  after  this  that  the  building  of  a  hall  was 
suggested  and  the  establishment  of  a  reading-room  was 
discussed.  The  first  purchase  of  books  was  in  1877,  when 
about  $350  was  expended.  Some  time  after  this,  enthu- 
siasm waned,  the  membership  scattered,  and  the  books 
were  turned  over  to  the  high  school.  The  old  organization 
was  almost  forgotten  until  about  two  years  ago,  when  the 
old  Institute  was  revived  by  a  new  organization  of  ladies, 
who  hold  regular  business  meetings  and  literary  entertain- 
ments open  to  the  public  on  the  afternoons  of  the  second 
Tuesday  of  each  month. 

This  new  society  was  formed  by  a  self-appointed  com- 
mittee, consisting  of  Mrs.  F.  L.  Irish,  Mrs.  C.  F.  Briggs, 
Mrs.  J.  A.  Roller,  Mrs.  C.  L.  Burnharn,  and  Mrs.  J.  R. 
Young,  who  met,  September  3,  1900,  to  devise  ways  and 
means  to  obtain  a  city  library  and  to  induce  the  Parlia- 
mentary Club  to  take  up  the  measure.  This  club  was 
found  ready  to  co-operate  with  the  ladies.  The  Library 
Association  was  partially  organized  at  this  meeting,  Septem- 
ber 4,  and  the  following  officers  elected :  Mrs.  F.  L.  Irish, 
president ;  Mrs.  C.  F.  Briggs,  first  vice-president ;  Mrs.  J. 
R.  Young,  second  vice-president ;  Mrs.  E.  H.  Purcell,  third 
vice-president ;  Mrs.  J.  A.  Roller,  secretary ;  Mrs.  D.  W. 
March,  treasurer ;  executive  committee,  Mrs.  W.  S.  Elliot, 
Mrs.  H.  M.  Cottrell,  Mrs.  H.  S.  Roberts,  Mrs.  C.  F.  Wilder, 
Mrs.  A.  E.  Higinbotham. 

September  11,  a  joint  meeting  of  the  new  Library  Asso- 
ciation and  the  Parliamentary  Club  decided  to  solicit  mem- 
bership fees,  at  five  dollars  each,  for  the  Manhattan  Institute. 
The  new  members  would  then  be  able  to  control  the  prop- 
erty of  the  Institute,  which  consisted  of  a  lot  valued  at 
$1500  and  the  $1000  fund  in  the  treasury  obtained  from 
membership  fees.  All  who  wished  to  work  for  a  library 
were  invited  to  meet  with  Mrs.  Irish  on  September  30. 
The  organization  was  completed  at  that  meeting,  the  con- 
stitution adopted,  and  signed  by  thirty  ladies.  Mrs.  Irish 


58  HDanbattan* 


afterward  resigned,  and  Mrs.  E.  H,  Purcell  was  elected  to 
fill  the  vacancy. 

The  Library  Association  is  an  auxiliary  to  the  Manhat- 
tan Institute.  According  to  its  constitution,  its  work  will 
be  done  when  a  library  building  is  erected  on  the  Institute 
lot,  on  the  corner  of  Fourth  street  and  Poyntz  avenue.  It 
may  not  disband,  but  continue  to  work  for  the  library. 

Aside  from  the  $1000  membership  fees  in  the  treasury 
of  the  Manhattan  Institute,  the  association  has  on  hand 
$974.55,  the  result  of  rummage  sales  and  various  entertain- 
ments. The  calendar  scheme,  it  is  expected,  will  place 
another  $1000  in  the  treasury. 

After  the  ladies  had  obtained  control  of  the  affairs  of 
the  Institute,  Mrs.  C.  F.  Wilder  was  authorized  to  write  to 
Mr.  Carnegie,  asking  him  for  a  gift  of  sufficient  money  to 
build  a  library  on  the  lot  owned  by  the  Institute.  After  a 
time,  notice  was  received  that  the  sum  of  $10,000  would  be 
offered,  with  the  usual  condition  of  ten  per  cent,  mainte- 
nance. In  April,  1903,  the  city  voted  to  expend  $1000  an- 
nually for  the  library.  The  mayor  immediately  appointed 
the  board  of  directors,  who  are :  Dr.  C.  F.  Little,  presi- 
dent; Mrs.  E.  H.  Purcell,  vice-president;  Mrs.  A.  M. 
Young,  secretary ;  Mrs.  M.  M.  Elliot,  Mrs.  U.  B.  Wharton, 
Mrs.  A.  K.  March,  Mr.  S.  M.  Fox,  Prof.  N.  S.  Mayo,  Mr. 
E.  H.  Ulrich,  Mr.  Geo.  T.  Fielding,  Mr.  J.  Q.  A.  Shelden, 
Mr.  Geo.  C.  Wilder,  Mr.  L.  N.  Flint. 

The  Institute  has  now  deeded  its  lot  to  the  city.  The 
building  committee,  Mr.  E.  H.  Ulrich,  chairman,  is  con- 
sidering plans,  but,  owing  to  the  flood,  building  has  been 
delayed. 

Population,  4275 ;  assessed  valuation,  $933,990. 


flDanbattam  59 


MANHATTAN. 

LIBRARY   OF   THE    KANSAS   STATE   AGRICULTURAL   COLLEGE. 

The  library  is  the  outgrowth  of  the  Bluemont  College 
Library,  was  moved  to  the  northeast  wing  of  the  main 
building  in  1878,  and  from  there  to  its  present  location  in 
the  west  wing  of  the  Library  Science  Hall  in  1894. 

There  are  25,766  volumes  in  the  library,  of  which  about 
1500  were  added  last  year.  The  library  is  especially  strong 
in  the  scientific  departments,  is  the  depository  of  the  Fifth 
Congressional  District  for  federal  documents,  and  the  de- 
pository for  the  Experiment  Station  library.  The  sum  of 
$1500  is  expended  annually  for  books,  with  $2220  for  sal- 
aries and  $300  for  student  labor. 

The  library  is  classified  by  the  Dewey  decimal  system, 
and  has  a  card  catalog. 

Mrs.  Henrietta  Calvin  is  librarian,  and  Margaret  J.  Minis 
and  Gertrude  A.  Barnes  assistants,  Librarians  from  the 
beginning  have  been  Prof.  M.  L.  Ward,  Prof.  W.  H.  Cowles, 
Prof.  B.  F.  Nyhart,  Prof.  D.  G.  Lantz,  Miss  Julia  K.  Pearce, 
Miss  Helen  J.  Wescott,  Miss  Josephine  T.  Berry,  Mrs. 
Henrietta  W.  Calvin. 


60  fiDebictne  Xobge. 


MARQUETTE. 

PUBLIC   SCHOOL   LIBRARY. 

The  library  was  established  by  H.  E.  Bruce  in  1894. 
Money  for  the  library  was  raised  by  giving  school  enter- 
tainments. The  principal  of  the  school  acts  as  librarian. 

The  library  contains  about  250  volumes,  20  being  added 
last  year,  and  is  free  to  all  pupils  of  the  school. 

There  is  no  public  library  in  the  town.  Most  of  the 
books  are  in  fiction.  The  most  popular  books  are  those  by 
Henty.  There  are  twenty  volumes  of  his  works,  and  they 
seem  to  be  very  fascinating  to  boys. 

The  enrolment  of  the  school  is  215,  and  240  books  have 
been  read  in  five  months. 

Population,  500 ;  assessed  valuation,  $92,804. 


¥    ¥ 


MEDICINE  LODGE. 

PUBLIC   LIBRARY. 

The  library  was  established  at  a  public  meeting,  Feb- 
ruary 25,  1898,  as  a  circulating  library  for  the  county,  W. 
K.  Palmer,  of  New  York,  offering  500  books  as  a  nucleus. 
It  is  now  maintained  entirely  by  gifts  and  by  money  raised 
by  entertainments  given  by  the  Monday  Afternoon  Club. 
Each  member  of  the  club  pays  an  admission  fee  of  fifty 
cents.  Two  years  ago  the  members  were  assessed  fifty 
cents  each.  There  are  182  members  in  all  entitled  to  the 
use  of  books. 

The  Board  of  County  Commissioners  has  given  the  jury- 
room  free  of  rent  for  the  entire  period. 

For  some  time  the  members  of  the  Monday  Afternoon 
Club  took  turn  about  and  kept  the  library  open ;  then 
several  clubbed  together  and  hired  Miss  Nella  Ross  as 


fllMnneapolis,  61 

librarian.  She  served  about  four  months  and  then  the 
board  elected  Mrs.  Calista  P.  Cartan. 

The  library  is  open  two  afternoons,  Wednesday  and 
Saturday,  of  each  week. 

There  are  now  1044  volumes  in  the  library ;  fiction  520, 
juvenile  360,  travel  42,  biography  49.  history  32,  religious 
23,  scientific  18.  There  are  no  encyclopedias  or  diction- 
aries. 

Last  year  the  club  purchased  nineteen  volumes  and  Mr. 
C.  Q.  Chandler  gave  $75  for  books,  with  which  ninety- 
five  volumes  were  bought.  He  also  gave  $25  to  pay  on  the 
librarian's  salary. 

The  officers  elected  at  the  regular  annual  meeting,  the 
second  Saturday  in  January,  are :  President,  Mrs.  W.  H. 
McCague  ;  vice-president,  the  Reverend  Belden ;  secretary - 
treasurer,  Miss  M.  Nell  Sample ;  board  of  directors,  Mrs. 
A.  M.  Houchin,  Mrs.  Jesse  M.  Nixon,  Mrs.  C.  Q.  Chandler, 
Mrs.  D.  K.  Sparks,  and  Mr.  J.  O.  Hahn. 

Population,  1591 ;  assessed  valuation,  $276,982. 


¥    ¥ 


MINNEAPOLIS. 

PUBLIC   LIBRARY. 

The  Public  Library  in  Minneapolis  is  owned  and  con- 
trolled by  the  Woman's  Library  Club,  composed  at  pres- 
ent of  eleven  members.  The  start  was  made  by  giving  a 
book  social,  the  admittance  fee  to  be  a  book.  The  success 
of  this  venture  was  doubtful.  By  other  means,  money 
enough  was  secured  to  paper  and  put  shelves  in  a  room  in 
the  city  hall.  This  has  been  the  home  of  the  library,  rent 
free,  since  March  1,  1898.  The  room  is  a  large  northwest 
room  on  the  second  floor  of  the  city  hall.  Along  the  south 
end  and  part  of  the  west  are  the  shelves.  The  rest  of  the 
room  is  furnished  with  stove,  table,  chairs,  etc.,  given  by 


62  iRcwton. 


the  members.  The  members  take  turns  in  caring  for  the 
library,  which  is  open  every  Saturday  afternoon. 

There  are  now  700  volumes  in  the  library.  By  paying 
a  fee  of  one  dollar,  the  ticket-holder  may  borrow  one  book 
per  week  for  one  year. 

There  is  one  encyclopedia  and  one  dictionary. 

Population,  2000 ;  assessed  valuation,  $458,782. 


¥    ¥    ¥ 


NEWTON. 

BETHEL  COLLEGE  LIBRARY. 

The  College  was  established  at  Newton  in  1893,  by  the 
Kansas  Conference  of  Mennonites.  The  library  contains 
a  good  selection  of  German  and  English  books,  and  num- 
bers about  2000  volumes,  valued  at  $2500. 

The  library  is  especially  well  supplied  with  reference 
works,  and  works  bearing  upon  church  history,  theology, 
English  and  German  literature,  pedagogy,  and  history. 

The  reading-room  is  open  to  students  during  school 
hours  and  on  Saturday  afternoons.  It  is  supplied  with 
newspapers,  periodicals  and  other  current  literature,  and 
offers  excellent  opportunities  to  students  who  wish  to  keep 
in  touch  with  current  events. 

[From  catalog  1901-'02.] 


mewton*  63 


NEWTON. 

NEWTON  FREE   LIBRARY. 

The  library  was  organized  by  the  Newton  Library  Asso- 
ciation with  a  fee  of  one  dollar  per  year  for  membership,  a 
room  rented  and  furnished,  and  a  small  collection  of  books 
gathered  some  by  purchase  and  some  by  gift.  In  June, 
1885,  it  was  opened  to  the  public. 

In  the  summer  of  1886,  a  special  election  was  held  for 
the  purpose  of  ascertaining  the  will  of  the  citizens  in  re- 
gard to  making  the  library  a  city  institution,  to  be  sup- 
ported by  a  tax  on  property  at  the  rate  of  one  mill.  The 
measure  carried,  and  on  September  27,  1886,  arrangements 
were  completed  for  transferring  stock  and  furnishings  of 
the  Newton  Library  Association  to  the  city,  and  the  library 
named  the  Newton  Free  Library. 

Rooms  are  rented  in  the  upper  story  of  a  business  block 
on  Main  street.  The  reading-room  and  book-room,  well- 
lighted  and  ventilated,  are  in  one.  The  stacks  are  behind 
the  delivery  desk  and  the  whole  is  separated  from  the  read- 
ing-room by  a  railing.  There  are  also  bookcases  against  the 
wall.  On  the  east  is  a  small  room  opening  into  the  book- 
room,  the  walls  lined  with  shelves  for  magazines  and  gov- 
ernment documents.  This  room  is  used  by  the  board  for 
meetings. 

There  are  twelve  trustees,  appointed  by  the  mayor  and 
confirmed  by  the  council,  with  the  mayor  a  member  ex 
officio.  The  present  board  consists  of  Mayor  G.  W. 
Young,  J.  W.  Patterson,  president;  Don  Kinney,  vice- 
president  ;  Dr.  L.  T.  Smith,  J.  B.  Fugate,  Mrs.  A.  Glazier, 
Mrs.  J.  R.  Lowe,  Mrs.  B.  H.  Turner,  Mrs.  C.  Spooner,  Mrs. 
Ira  Small,  Mrs.  C.  S.  Johnston,  Mrs.  O.  B.  Hildreth,  and 
Miss  J.  E.  Richardson. 

Mrs.  B.  H.  Turner  was  librarian  from  June  to  Septem- 
ber, 1885 ;  Miss  L.  McAlpine  from  September  1,  1885,  to 
December  31,  1901,  and  Miss  Lulu  M.  Knight  from  then 
to  the  present  time. 

The  receipts  are  from  taxation.     Andrew  Carnegie  has 


64  IFlewton, 


pledged  $15,000  for  a  building.  Other  gifts  for  1902  were 
$200.39.  The  annual  cost  of  administration  is  about  $1000, 
with  $231  spent  for  the  purchase  of  books  ;  $480  for  sala- 
ries. There  are  6097  volumes,  2436  being  government 
documents.  There  are  2378  pamphlets.  There  were  ad- 
ded, in  1902,  321  volumes.  The  circulation  was  12,973. 
The  library  is  strong  in  United  States  history,  has  the 
Encyclopaedia  Britannica,  Appleton's  American  Cyclopaedia 
with  yearly  supplements,  and  has  English,  Latin,  German, 
French  and  Spanish  dictionaries. 

The  library  is  free  to  all  citizens  properly  accredited  to 
draw  books  for  home  use  from  the  circulating  department. 
Free  use  is  given  to  readers  in  the  room  of  any  book  on 
the  shelves.  Some  reference  books  are  loaned  for  a  lim- 
ited period.  The  pupils  of  all  the  schools  use  the  library, 
but  those  from  the  high  school  especially.  The  teachers 
send  lists  of  topics  of  required  reading  to  the  librarian,  who 
selects  the  books  needed.  These  are  read  in  the  room 
usually.  Many  books  are  also  used  for  supplementary 
reading  at  home. 

There  are  twelve  picture  collections  for  bulletin  boards 
for  Kansas  day,  Christmas,  Thanksgiving,  Nature  day, 
and  others,  the  Century  Gallery  of  Portraits,  also  art  studies 
in  color  and  in  black  and  white. 

The  library  is  classified  by  the  Dewey  system,  has  a 
small  card  catalog  and  a  printed  author  catalog. 

Population,  6727  ;  assessed  valuation,  $1,032,254. 


©sawatomie.  65 


NOETON. 

NORTON   COUNTY   TEACHERS'    LIBRARY. 

The  Norton  County  Teachers'  Library  was  founded  in 
1892  by  several  of  the  teachers  who  gave  books,  and  is  un- 
der the  control  of  the  executive  committee  of  the  County 
Teachers'  Association,  chosen  each  year  in  July  by  the 
teachers  of  the  county.  The  present  board  consists  of  F. 
R.  Snyder,  county  superintendent;  H.  M.  Cutter,  Lon 
Alexander,  R.  B.  Graves,  and  Mrs.  Minnie  Harmonson. 
F.  R.  Snyder  is  librarian.  G.  W.  Blaine  was  the  first  li- 
brarian, succeeded  by  F.  H.  Baker  and  R.  D.  Emery. 

The  annual  receipts  do  not  exceed  fifty  dollars,  as  the 
only  income  is  from  fees  collected  from  the  members. 
Any  one  may  use  the  books  on  payment  of  the  fee,  which 
is  fifty  cents  a  year  for  adults  and  twenty-five  cents  for 
children. 

There  are  about  1100  volumes  in  the  library,  forty  vol- 
umes being  added  last  year.  The  library  contains  a  good 
selection  of  teachers'  professional  works,  a  good  deal  of  fic- 
tion, and  a  large  number  of  public  documents.  The  library 
at  present  is  in  the  county  superintendent's  office, 


¥    ¥    ¥ 


OSAWATOMIE. 

PUBLIC    LIBRARY. 

The  Osawatomie  City  Library  was  established  in  1890, 
and  occupied  a  rented  room  in  Farmers'  and  Mechanics' 
Bank  building  until  March,  1902,  when  it  moved  into  a 
beautifully  finished  room  40  x  60  feet,  on  the  second  floor 
of  the  newly  erected  City  Hall.  This  room  is  fitted  up  es- 
pecially for  the  library,  and  has  fine  oak  tables,  chairs,  and 
the  Gunn  sectional  bookcases.  The  library  is  governed 
—5 


66  ©eawatomte. 


by  a  board  of  twelve  trustees,  appointed  by  the  mayor  and 
confirmed  by  the  city  council.  The  present  board  consists 
of  J.  R.  Thierstein,  president ;  Mrs.  Walter  Barnes,  secre- 
tary; Mrs.  F.  L.  Guthrie,  treasurer ;  the  Rev.  J.  M.  Leonard, 
Mrs.  J.  C.  Chestnut,  Mrs.  H.  B.  Smith,  Mrs.  W.  E.  Craig, 
Mrs.  J.  S.  Johnson,  Mrs.  S.  J.  Brown,  Mrs.  L.  M.  Hardin, 
Mrs.  L.  S.  Harvey,  Mrs.  W.  L.  Dunaway. 

Mrs.  T.  A.  Ling  is  the  present  librarian ;  others  having 
been  C.  S.  Bixby,  J.  W.  Allard. 

A  tax  of  one-half  mill  per  annum  is  levied,  which  brings 
to  the  library  about  $300.  Formerly  the  tax-rate  allowed 
was  only  one-fourth  mill  or  less.  The  amount  expended 
for  salaries  is  $135  ;  for  binding,  $25 ;  for  purchase  of  books, 
$150.  The  number  of  volumes  in  good  condition  is  1800 ; 
of  these  700  were  added  last  yesr.  The  circulation  aver- 
ages 300  to  400  books  each  month. 

The  library  is  classified  by  a  system  of  its  own.  The 
library  is  especially  strong  in  its  line  of  juvenile  books  and 
books  of  reference  to  assist  the  work  in  school.  There  is 
this  co-operation  between  the  schools  and  the  library  that, 
when  teachers  or  pupils  wish  any  books  they  make  out 
lists,  which  are  then  handed  to  the  superintendent  and 
presented  to  the  library  board.  The  board  endeavors,  as 
much  as  possible,  to  supply  these  books. 

Residents  of  the  city  have  the  free  use  of  the  library. 
Persons  outside  the  city  may  use  the  library  by  paying  a 
fee  of  $1.50  per  annum,  but  to  non-resident  city  teachers 
and  tuition  pupils  its  use  is  free. 

Population,  3500;  assessed  valuation,  $350,000. 


©ttawa.  67 


OSWEGO. 

PUBLIC   LIBRARY. 

The  Oswego  Library  was  established  about  1880,  and  is 
maintained  by  the  gifts  of  citizens,  and  housed  in  the  city 
building.  There  are  about  4000  volumes. 

Population,  2610 ;  assessed  valuation,  $377,255. 


¥    ¥ 


OTTAWA. 

FREE    PUBLIC   LIBRARY. 

The  Ottawa  Library  was  established  in  1871  by  ten  la- 
dies, who  each  gave  one  dollar,  which  was  invested  in 
books,  which  formed  a  nucleus.  The  library  was  supported 
entirely  by  gifts  until  300  volumes  were  accumulated.  At 
this  time,  by  special  act  of  the  legislature,  $100  was  set 
apart  by  the  city  for  its  support.  A  librarian  was  chosen, 
who  opened  the  rooms  to  the  public  two  evenings  in  the 
week.  In  1884,  the  city  began  giving  $400  annually  to  the 
library.  The  rooms  were  then  opened  every  week  night 
and  Saturday  afternoon  ;  later  Tuesday  and  Thursday  were 
included.  During  this  time  memberships  were  sold  at  one 
dollar  per  year. 

The  Ottawa  Library  Association  has  elected  annually  a 
board  of  trustees  of  six  members.  The  present  board  con- 
sists of  Mrs.  R.  S.  Black,  president;  Mr.  W.  S.  Jenks,  vice- 
president;  Mrs.  R.  A.  Wasson,  secretary ;  Mr.  Alburn  Skin- 
ner, treasurer,  Miss  Minnie  Smith,  Mrs.  C.  B.  Oelkers. 

The  librarians  have  been :  Miss  Julia  M.  Walsh,  till 
1882 ;  Miss  Belle  Cummings,  1882  to  1884 ;  Mrs.  Alice  L. 
Holland,  1884  to  1888 ;  Miss  Julia  M.  Walsh,  from  1888  to 
the  present. 

The  library  receives  from  the  city  $400,  and  by  gifts 


68  ©ttawa* 


about  $400  annually,  and  expends  for  books  $200,  binding, 
$50,  for  salaries,  $312,  and  for  rent,  fuel,  and  light,  $238. 

The  library  has  5500  volumes,  3500  pamphlets ;  receives 
30  current  periodicals  and  25  papers;  362  volumes  were 
added  last  year ;  the  circulation  was  11,580. 

The  library  is  classified  by  the  Cutter  system  and  has 
a  dictionary  card  catalog. 

The  use  of  the  books  is  free  in  the  reading-room,  but 
those  who  take  books  home  must  pay  a  membership  fee  of 
one  dollar  per  year. 

In  March,  1902,  the  city  voted  to  accept  a  gift  of  $15,000 
from  Andrew  Carnegie  for  a  library  building,  and  pledged 
$1500  annually  for  maintenance.  This  building  is  now  in 
process  of  construction  in  the  city  park,  opposite  the  high 
school,  known  as  the  Washington. 

The  membership  of  the  Ottawa  Library  Association  has 
promised  to  turn  over  to  the  city  the  present  library  when 
the  building  is  completed.  The  mayor  has  appointed  the 
following  trustees,  according  to  the  state  law:  Mr.  Adam 
Dobson,  president;  Mr,  Fred  Harris,  vice-president;  Mr. 
Alburn  Skinner,  treasurer ;  Mrs.  K.  A.  Wasson,  secretary ; 
Dr.  T.  O.  Hetrick,  mayor,  the  Kev.  Dr.  Krum,  Mr.  Wm. 
Wallace,  Mr.  Edwin  M.  Sheldon,  Mr.  W.  S.  Jenks,  Mrs.  K. 
S.  Black,  Mr.  H.  A.  Dunn,  Mr.  H.  Turness. 

Population,  8000;  assessed  valuation,  $1,178,506. 


OTTAWA. 

OTTAWA   UNIVERSITY   LIBRARY. 

The  entire  library  was  destroyed  by  fire  last  September. 
Immediately  after  the  fire,  friends  began  giving  books,  so 
that  the  present  library  was  begun  the  day  of  the  fire,  Sep- 
tember 10,  1902.  Several  books  were  given  before  the  fire 
was  really  extinguished.  Within  a  week  a  good  set  of 
Encyclopaedia  Britannica,  a  set  of  the  People's  Encyclopae- 


Ipaola,  69 

dia,  a  set  of  Bible  encyclopaedias  and  valuable  miscellane- 
ous books  were  given. 

The  management  of  the  library  is  in  the  hands  of  a  com- 
mittee of  three  members  of  the  faculty.  E.  K.  Chandler, 
D.  D.,  is  librarian,  and  Miss  Nera  Judy  assistant. 

There  is  no  endowment  or  income  from  taxation  or  fees. 
The  alumni  raise  a  small  amount  every  year  for  the  library. 
The  trustees  last  summer  voted  $100  annually  for  books. 
The  only  salary  is  that  of  the  assistant,  who  receives  simply 
tuition  for  services  rendered. 

At  present  there  are  about  1000  volumes,  but  more  will 
be  purchased  with  the  insurance  money,  and  there  will 
probably  be  1500  by  the  end  of  the  year.  They  will  be 
classified  by  the  Dewey  system,  and  will  be  catalogued. 

The  library  will  have  a  good  and  commodious  room  in 
the  new  building. 


PAOLA. 

FREE    PUBLIC    LIBRARY. 

In  the  winter  of  1875,  a  stock  company  was  organized  in 
Paola  for  the  purchase  of  books.  It  was  called  the  Paola 
Library  Association.  Judge  Hiram  Stevens  was  the  presi- 
dent. Among  the  stockholders  were  W.  H.  Brown,  George 
Kingsley,  J.  H.  Rice,  Mrs.  James  Turner,  and  Mrs.  M. 
McLaughlin.  Each  stockholder  paid  ten  dollars  dues. 

Mrs.  James  Turner  was  librarian.  The  association  kept 
its  books  in  an  office,  and  the  librarian,  who  was  teaching 
school,  was  there  on  Thursdays  after  school  was  out  and  on 
Saturday  afternoons.  At  first,  there  was  a  great  deal  of  in- 
terest taken,  but  gradually  interest  lagged,  books  were  taken 
out  and  not  returned.  Finally,  the  association  offered 
to  give  the  books  and  fixtures  to  the  city,  provided  the  city 
would  make  it  the  nucleus  of  a  public  library.  The  offer 
was  accepted.  The  association  had  bought  300  books,  most 


70  paola, 

of  which  were  histories,  but  only  100  were  received  by  the 
city,  the  rest  being  worn  out  or  lost. 

The  work  of  organizing  the  present  library  was  begun 
in  1880.  Mrs.  E.  J.  Heiskell  was  appointed  librarian  Octo- 
ber 15,  1880. 

A  Ladies'  Library  Association  was  formed,  of  which 
Mrs.  J.  W.  Sponable  was  president.  This  organization 
raised  $100  by  solicitation,  besides  giving  books,  maga- 
zines, and  money.  The  Pleasant  Hour  Club  gave  a  series 
of  evening  entertainments  for  the  benefit  of  the  library, 
which  netted  $100.  This  club  has  since  given  collections 
of  books. 

In  January,  1881,  the  library  was  opened  as  a  circula- 
ting library,  with  rooms  in  the  city  building.  Borrowers 
were  charged  ten  cents  for  each  book  taken,  or  they  could 
buy  a  ticket  for  one  year  for  $1.50. 

In  1884,  Mr.  J.  W.  Sponable  offered  to  give  $500  if  the 
city  would  do  the  same.  This  was  accepted.  In  1885,  he 
repeated  the  offer,  which  was  again  accepted.  J.  F.  Chand- 
ler gave  $250.  Mr.  Sponable  gave  also  several  hundred 
books,  and  continued  to  give  books  and  magazines  as  long 
as  he  lived. 

In  1887,  the  library  was  made  free  to  all  residents  of  the 
city.  The  citizens  voted  a  tax  of  one  mill  about  that  time. 
The  library  had  been  moved  from  the  city  building  to 
rooms  which  were  large  and  convenient,  but  there  was  rent 
to  pay  and  the  income  was  small.  Mr.  Sponable  came  to 
the  rescue.  In  1893,  he  gave  a  lot  and  a  small  two-story 
building  for  library  purposes.  The  city  built  an  addition 
twenty-two  feet  wide  and  about  sixty  feet  long.  Most  of 
the  books  for  circulation  are  kept  in  this  room,  and  it  is 
also  used  as  a  reading-room.  The  original  building  is  used 
for  reference  and  government  books. 

Mrs.  E.  J.  Heiskell  resigned  her  position  on  account  of 
poor  health  April  1,  1897.  Katharine  A.  Hobson  was  ap- 
pointed her  successor  and  is  the  present  librarian. 

The  trustees,  twelve  in  number,  are  appointed  by  the 
mayor.  The  present  board  is  composed  of  the  following 
members:  B.  T.  Kiley,  E.  J.  Heiskell,  Lora  O.  George, 


paola.  71 


W.  T.  Johnson,  Lora  Keith,  H.  0.  Jones,  Henrietta  Stod- 
dard  Turner,  D.  M.  Ferguson,  Olive  Bigelow,  Rhoda  Free- 
land,  George  Kingsley,  William  Crowell,  and  the  mayor,  by 
virtue  of  his  office. 

The  library  is  supported  by  taxation,  which  gives  an  in- 
come of  $650  or  $700.  This  amount  is  expended  by  the 
board  of  trustees,  about  $200  for  the  purchase  of  books, 
$50  for  periodicals,  $300  for  salaries. 

There  are  about  5000  volumes  on  the  shelves.  The 
number  of  periodicals  and  newspapers  is  not  known.  Har- 
per's Magazine,  Scribner's  and  Century  are  bound,  but  the 
others  are  not.  One  hundred  volumes  were  added  last 
year.  The  library  has  a  membership  in  the  Tabard  Inn 
Library.  This  supplies  fifty  books  a  month,  if  the  library 
wishes  to  exchange  all  of  the  books  every  month,  but  usu- 
ally only  twenty-five  are  returned  at  a  time  and  twenty-five 
more  ordered.  The  average  number  of  books  loaned  in  a 
year  is  9770. 

Visitors  to  the  library  think  that  it  is  especially  strong 
in  history,  literature,  and  works  of  criticism.  Fiction  forms 
only  about  one-sixth  of  the  books  in  the  library.  There  are 
three  encyclopedias,  besides  Bible  encyclopedias,  Larned's 
History  for  Ready  Reference,  concordances,  and  commen- 
taries. There  are  other  books  of  reference,  German  and 
French  dictionaries,  etc. 

The  classification  is  simple :  history,  divided  by  coun- 
tries ;  biography ;  science  ;  fiction  ;  juvenile,  etc. ;  probably 
according  to  Wm.  F.  Poole,  whose  book  on  Organization 
and  Management  of  Public  Libraries  seems  to  have  been 
followed.  There  is  no  printed  catalog  later  than  1885. 
There  is  a  typewritten  card  for  each  shelf,  giving  titles  of 
books  and  author's  names. 

There  is  no  high-school  library.  The  high-school  stu- 
dents do  a  large  part  of  their  literature  and  English  work 
at  the  public  library.  The  library  endeavors  to  get  any 
book  which  is  needed  by  the  pupils  for  reference  or  re- 
quired reading.  The  teachers  make  lists  of  books  and 
articles  on  certain  subjects,  and  send  the  scholars  to  read 
them.  The  Ursuline  Academy  pupils  also  use  the  refer- 


72  parsons* 


ence  books.  The  library  is  used  very  much  as  a  high- 
school  library  would  be.  The  city  superintendent  of 
schools  says  that  the  history  and  literature  collection  is  as 
good  as  many  small  colleges  have. 

All  persons  who  visit  the  library  are  required  to  write 
their  names  in  a  visitors'  register.  The  average  number  of 
visitors  is  about  12,000  a  year. 

In  March,  1902,  Mrs.  Martha  Smith  died,  leaving  a  will 
bequeathing  to  the  Directors  of  the  Paola  Free  Public 
Library  property  valued  at  $10,000,  for  the  erection  of  a 
library  building.  This  money  cannot  be  used  until  her  es- 
tate is  settled  up.  After  that  time,  the  friends  of  the  li- 
brary hope  to  see  a  fire-proof  building  instead  of  the  frame 
one  now  occupied. 

Population,  3144 ;  assessed  valuation,  $722,225. 


¥    ¥    ¥ 


PARSONS. 

MEMORIAL   AND   HISTORICAL   LIBRARY. 

This  library  was  founded  under  the  auspices  of  the  Wo- 
man's Christian  Temperance  Union  and  opened  to  the  pub- 
lic November  26,  1880,  in  a  rented  room,  with  no  money  in 
its  treasury,  and  with  one  newspaper  and  five  books,  three 
of  which  were  state  reports,  upon  its  shelves.  A  commit- 
tee raised  money  by  giving  socials  and  literary  entertain- 
ments to  pay  the  rent,  furnish  the  rooms,  and  buy  books. 

Interest  steadily  increased,  especially  with  the  mechan- 
ics and  the  reading  part  of  the  community,  until  it  became 
necessary  to  provide  larger  rooms.  No  place  in  the  city 
was  available,  and  it  was  determined  to  build  a  library. 
Mrs.  Augustus  Wilson  was  the  leader  in  this  movement 
and  personally  solicited  money,  books,  lumber  and  mer- 
chandise from  corporations,  societies  and  merchants  in  the 
East  and  from  the  citizens  of  the  state  generally  and  gave 
liberally  herself. 


K 
w 

I 
8 

E 
g 


parsons,  73 


Thirty-seven  hundred  volumes  were  sent  from  the  East 
free  of  charge  through  the  courtesy  of  the  railroads.  A 
nucleus  of  $500  was  placed  in  the  Savings  Bank.  Plans 
were  at  once  drawn  for  the  new  building,  and  on  the  1st 
day  of  April,  1882,  the  foundation  was  started.  The  sub- 
scriptions were  collected,  aggregating  $20,000.  The  names 
of  the  donors  are  inscribed  on  the  memorial  library  tablets. 

The  library  was  moved  into  the  new  building  April  1, 
1883.  The  building  is  100x60  feet,  three  stories  high, 
built  of  brick  and  stone  and  lighted  by  gas.  The  lower 
floor  was  used  for  business  rooms  and  select  schools.  One- 
half  of  the  second  floor  was  used  for  library  and  reading- 
room  and  the  other  half  for  a  lecture  hall.  The  upper 
floor,  intended  for  an  art  gallery  and  museum,  was  left  un- 
finished. 

To  celebrate  the  opening  of  the  library,  Mrs.  Wilson  ed- 
ited a  volume  of  400  pages  with  the  title:  Parsons  Me- 
morial and  Historical  Library  Magazine.  It  contains  an 
account  of  the  library  and  the  citizens  who  assisted  in  its 
establishment.  The  volume  is  well  illustrated  and  neatly 
bound  in  brown  cloth.  It  was  published  in  January,  1885. 

Unfortunately  the  library  spirit  at  Parsons  has  lan- 
guished. The  books  are  scattered;  the  building  is  used 
for  stores ;  the  business  college  occupies  the  upper  floor. 
There  is  now  no  public  library  in  the  town  except  the 
small  library  in  the  High  School. 

Population,  9471 ;  assessed  valuation,  $1,275,889. 


74 


PEABODY. 

PUBLIC   LIBRARY. 

Mr.  F.  H.  Peabody,  vice-president  of  the  Atchison,  To- 
peka  &  Santa  Fe  railroad,  after  whom  the  city  was  named, 
feeling  an  interest  in  the  intellectual  welfare  of  his  name- 
sake, generously  offered  to  erect  a  building  and  supply  it 
with  books  for  a  free  public  library,  provided  a  suitable 
site  was  furnished.  The  proposition  was  accepted,  and  the 
building  erected  in  the  spring  of  1875.  From  time  to  time 
there  have  been  new  books  placed  upon  the  shelves,  se- 
cured largely  by  subscriptions  from  appreciative  patrons. 
Some  books  and  papers  have  been  given  by  others  than 
Mr.  Peabody.  He  continues  to  manifest  his  interest  in 
the  library  by  supplying  the  reading-room  with  a  liberal 
amount  of  current  reading-matter. 

By  act  of  the  state  legislature,  the  property  is  under  the 
control  of  the  township  board,  of  which  there  are  three 
members,  Mr.  Derby,  Mr.  Kent,  Mr.  Dawson.  A  commit- 
tee of  six,  two  elected  each  year  for  the  term  of  three  years, 
at  a  citizens'  meeting  held  for  the  purpose,  co-operates  with 
the  township  board  in  the  internal  management  of  the 
library.  This  is  known  as  the  citizens'  committee.  They, 
with  the  board,  have  been  active  in  looking  after  the  inter- 
ests committed  to  them.  A  small  general  tax  (one  mill)  is 
levied  annually  upon  the  property  of  the  township  for  the 
support  of  the  library.  The  citizens  of  the  township  have 
free  use  of  the  library. 

Miss  Emma  F.  Christ  is  librarian,  the  others  having 
been  Mrs.  Silsbee,  Mrs.  Crisfield,  Mrs.  Miller,  Mrs.  Khines, 
Miss  Rockafellow.  The  library  is  classified  and  has  a 
printed  catalog. 

One  year  $1500  worth  of  new  books  was  added  to  the 
library,  but  $100  is  the  usual  sum  for  purchase  of  books, 
with  $500  for  other  expenses ;  100  volumes  were  added 
last  year,  and  35  volumes  bound.  There  are  now  8000  vol- 
umes, 75  periodicals,  in  the  library.  The  library  is  strong- 


HMttsburg,  75 


est  in  history,  science,  theology,  and  is  constantly  used  by 
the  high-school  pupils. 

The  reading-room  is  open  every  afternoon  and  evening, 
Sundays  excepted. 

Population,  2248 ;  assessed  valuation,  $447,748. 


¥    ¥    ¥ 


PITTSBURG. 

FREE    PUBLIC    LIBRAY. 

The  library  was  formally  opened  January  18,  1902.  It 
occupies  one  room,  large,  light  and  airy,  in  the  city  hall 
and  library,  is  furnished  with  tables,  chairs,  card  index 
cases,  and  Wernicke  bookcases  of  golden  oak.  The  library 
is  supported  by  an  annual  tax  of  one  mill,  which  yields 
about  $1100.  The  cost  of  the  year's  administration  has 
been  $474.89,  with  $420  for  salary. 

The  number  of  volumes  is  2376 ;  including  government 
books,  there  are  3156  bound  volumes.  Eighteen  current 
periodicals  are  taken.  During  the  year  773  volumes  have 
been  added.  The  circulation  to  December  30  was  a  trifle 
over  20,000,  with  a  list  of  1516  borrowers.  All  persons  over 
nine  years  of  age  are  entitled  to  draw  books,  provided  they 
are  guaranteed  by  some  responsible  resident  of  the  city. 

The  library  is  especially  strong  in  history,  and  has  rela- 
tively no  more  fiction  than  biography,  economics,  science, 
history,  etc. 

The  library  is  classified  according  to  the  system  used  in 
the  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  Public  Library,  and  has  a  card  dic- 
tionary catalog,  typewritten. 

The  librarian  is  Miss  Ella  Buchanan. 

The  library  is  governed  by  a  board  of  twelve  trustees, 
organized  according  to  the  state  law,  and  consisting  of 
Morris  Cliggett.  president ;  W.  E.  Seabury,  vice-president ; 
E.  F.  Porter,  secretary ;  W.  H.  Morris,  R.  E.  Carlton,  James 


76  fiMafnvflie* 


Patmor,  H.  C.  Willard,  P.  P.  Campbell,  J.  C.  Buchanan,  J, 
T.  Moore,  J.  R.  McKim,  P.  B.  Wheeler,  and  Doctor  Hun- 
ter,  mayor,  member  ex  officio. 
Population,  10,112. 


PLAIN  VILLE. 

PUBLIC   LIBKARY. 

The  library  was  founded  May  24,  1902.  The  question 
of  a  public  library  was  first  agitated  in  the  fall  of  1901  by 
the  members  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  They  consulted  with  the 
ministers  and  business  men  of  the  town.  A  meeting  was 
called  in  November  and  a  committee  appointed  to  canvass 
and  report.  At  the  next  meeting,  which  was  in  April,  of- 
ficers, librarian  and  book  committee  were  appointed.  The 
first  business  meeting  was  held  the  second  Monday  even- 
ing of  May. 

The  library  is  maintained  by  shareholders,  who  pay  two 
dollars  yearly  for  a  period  of  five  years ;  by  borrowers,  who 
pay  the  same  amount  by  the  year ;  by  fees  for  books  and 
fines.  Gifts  of  books,  reading-matter,  money  and  furnish- 
ings have  been  received. 

The  present  board  of  three  trustees,  elected  by  the 
shareholders  of  the  Library  Association  at  the  annual 
meeting,  consists  of  Forrest  Cochran,  J.  E.  Gebhart,  and 
J.  R.  Foster.  President  of  Association,  N.  F.  Shaw;  sec- 
retary, F.  E.  Gardner;  librarian,  Florence  Ackerman. 

The  library  is  in  a  rented  room  in  a  building  situated  on 
the  northeast  corner  of  a  lot  at  the  end  of  the  principal 
business  street,  and  has  a  north  front.  It  has  several  pic- 
tures, a  large  and  a  small  reading  table,  plain  open  book- 
case, several  common  chairs,  a  rocker,  an  office  desk,  and 
lamps. 

An  effort  is  made  for  the  library  to  be  attractive  to 


IRussell.  77 


young  people,  especially  boys,  to  railroad  and  mill  hands, 
and  to  provide  a  rest-room  for  ladies  coming  from  a  dis- 
tance to  town. 

There  are  325  volumes  in  the  library,  and  64  loaned  from 
the  Traveling  Libraries  Commission.  21  years  of  magazines, 
and  13  years  of  papers.  There  have  been  given  12  papers, 
including  3  dailies  and  9  weeklies,  and  5  magazines. 

About  21  books  are  taken  out  weekly.  There  is  a  set  of 
the  International  Library  of  Reference  and  Encyclopedic 
Dictionary  which  are  loans.  The  library  has  nearly  two- 
thirds  of  its  books  fiction,  the  remainder  being  biography 
history,  religion,  and  poetry.  The  library  is  partly  classi- 
fied by  the  Decimal  system. 

A  salary  of  five  dollars  per  month  is  paid  the  librarian, 
who  keeps  the  room  open  three  afternoons  and  evenings 
each  week.  The  librarian  has  made  lists  of  books  in  the  li- 
brary suitable  for  the  different  grades  of  the  public  schools 
and  has  given  them  to  the  teachers,  who  place  the  lists  upon 
the  wall  so  that  the  pupils  may  use  them  for  reference. 
The  library  is  frequently  consulted  both  by  teachers  and 
pupils  as  a  consequence.  Many  of  the  teachers  in  the 
county  also  use  the  library,  some  sending  from  ten  or 
twelve  miles  for  books. 

Population,  935 ;  assessed  valuation,  $212,200. 


¥    ¥    ¥ 


RUSSELL. 

FREE   PUBLIC   LIBRARY. 

The  library  was  established  in  1901,  after  a  popular 
vote,  and  organized  under  the  state  law,  with  a  board  of 
directors  appointed  by  the  mayor.  The  present  board 
consists  of  L.  H.  Boyd ;  president ;  J.  C.  Ruppenthal,  sec- 
retary ;  M.  P.  Miller,  E.  W.  Voorhis,  F.  J.  Smith,  C.  L. 
Lacey,  W.  G.  Eastland,  Mrs.  C.  E.  Hall,  Miss  Allie  Elli- 
thorpe,  J.  Strecker,  G.  F.  Dawson,  J.  H.  Hill,  and  Ira  S. 


78  st.  fl&ar^'s. 


Fleck.  Grace  E.  Stephens  is  librarian  and  has  been  since 
the  library  was  first  opened,  March  1,  1901.  The  library 
occupies  two  rented  front  rooms  on  Main  street,  over  the 
post-office. 

The  receipts  for  1901  were  :  From  taxation,  $575.24 ; 
from  gifts,  $174.95 ;  from  fines,  $12.66 ;  in  1902,  from  tax- 
ation,  $506.36;  from  fines,  $14.70. 

The  expenditure  for  rent,  fuel  and  salaries  was  $349.21 
for  1901,  and  $338.29  for  1902;  for  purchase  of  books, 
$44.43  in  1901,  and  $75.43  in  1902;  for  binding,  $18.30  in 
1901,  and  $39.50  in  1902. 

There  are  1235  volumes  in  the  library,  of  which  300 
were  added  last  year,  and  18  current  periodicals. 

The  reading-room  and  reference  books  are  free  to  all, 
the  citizens  of  Russell  county  having  free  use  of  books. 
Lists  of  new  books  are  printed  in  the  city  papers.  There 
are  several  picture  collections  and  two  large  wall  maps, 
Webster's  International  Dictionary,  latest  edition,  and  the 
New  International  Encyclopedia.  There  is  relatively  more 
fiction  than  any  other  class. 

The  library  is  classified  by  the  Dewey  system,  using 
Cutter's  author  tables.  There  is  no  catalog.  The  number 
of  books  issued  in  1901  was  4217. 

Population,  1144 ;  assessed  valuation,  $199,942. 


¥    ¥ 


ST.  MARY'S. 

ST.  MAKY'S  COLLEGE  LIBRARY. 

The  College,  conducted  by  the  Fathers  of  the  Society  of 
Jesus,  was  established  in  1869.  The  different  student  or- 
ganizations have  libraries  and  reading-rooms.  The  Sodality 
of  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary  has  a  library  of  1000  volumes. 
The  senior  and  junior  divisions  of  the  Library  and  Reading- 
room  Association  have  more  than  2000  volumes  of  choice 
selections  from  English  and  American  literature. 

[Adapted  from  catalogue.] 


©alina,  79 


SALINA. 

FREE   PUBLIC   LIBRARY. 

The  library  was  organized  in  1894  as  a  subscription 
library  and  was  supported  by  voluntary  contributions. 
Mrs.  Denton  and  Mrs.  Carrie  Frain  were  librarians  under 
that  organization.  In  the  spring  of  1899,  the  vote  for  a 
free  city  library  carried,  after  having  been  voted  on  at 
three  elections. 

There  are  twelve  directors,  appointed  by  the  mayor  and 
approved  by  the  city  council.  The  members  of  the  present 
board  are :  Frank  Hageman,  president ;  Mrs.  Laura  M. 
Johns,  Mrs.  May  B.  Brown,  Mrs.  Alice  Bond,  Oscar  Seitz, 
Clarence  Wilson,  George  Hull,  T.  D.  Fitzpatrick,  E.  W. 
Ober,  Chas.  McAdams,  and  Thos.  Anderson,  mayor.  Two 
resignations  are  in  the  hands  of  the  mayor. 

Bessie  Page  is  librarian,  and  has  been  since  the  library 
passed  under  the  control  of  the  city,  January  1,  1900. 

At  present  the  library  occupies  a  rented  building,  but 
will  soon  move  into  the  new  Carnegie  building,  erected  at 
a  cost  of  $15,000. 

There  are  about  2600  volumes  in  the  library,  120  added 
last  year,  classified  by  Poole's  system.  There  are  several 
good  sets  of  encyclopedias,  and  other  reference  books. 
About  60  books  are  issued  daily. 

The  income  of  the  library  is  from  taxation,  and  will  be 
$1500  per  year ;  of  that,  about  $400  to  be  expended  for  books. 

Population,  7500 ;  assessed  valuation,  $1,165,000. 


so  Smitb  Center. 


SALINA. 

KANSAS   WESLEYAN   UNIVERSITY   LIBRARY. 

The  library  was  started  in  1886  by  gifts  from  friends, 
and  has  increased  slowly,  until  it  now  has  5000  volumes. 
It  occupies  a  good-sized  room  in  the  college  building,  and 
has  considerable  shelf  space.  The  library  is  conducted  by 
students,  who  work  out  their  tuition  fees  in  this  way.  A 
library  fee  of  twenty-five  cents  per  student  is  charged  each 
term.  The  library  is  strongest  in  American  history. 


SMITH  CENTER/ 

PUBLIC   LIBRARY. 

The  Woman's  Harmony  Library  Club  was  organized  at 
Smith  Center  about  seven  years  ago,  with  a  membership 
limited  to  twenty-four.  Each  of  the  twenty-four  members 
takes  her  turn  acting  as  librarian.  The  club  owns  its  build- 
ing, books,  and  fixtures.  The  building  was  paid  for  partly 
by  gifts  and  partly  by  entertainments  given  by  the  club, 
and  is  valued  at  $1800.  The  books  are  bought  by  the  club 
with  money  received  for  rent  of  upstairs  rooms,  by  giving 
entertainments,  by  the  dues  and  the  fines. 

There  are  about  1000  books,  aside  from  the  800  federal 
documents.  The  club  has  about  $150  in  the  bank.  In  ad- 
dition, there  are  several  hundred  dollars'  worth  of  speci- 
mens and  curiosities,  and  a  furnished  kitchen,  all  being 
fully  insured. 

The  club  belongs  to  the  Sixth  District  Federation,  and 
usually  sends  delegates  to  district  and  state  meetings. 

The  officers  are :  Mrs.  Rose  Nelson,  president ;  Mrs. 
Florence  Reese,  vice-president ;  Mrs.  Inez  Sargent,  secre- 
tary ;  Mrs.  Hattie  Baker,  treasurer. 

Population,  1403 ;  assessed  valuation,  $307,758. 


Sopefca.  si 


TONGANOXIE. 

PUBLIC   LIBRARY. 

The  library  was  started  in  1899  by  the  ladies  who  formed 
the  Tonganoxie  Library  Association.  A  pleasant  little 
room  in  the  bank  building  is  rented.  There  is  a  board  of 
twenty-five  directors,  who  are  elected.  Gr.  Schoenan  is  li- 
brarian. 

The  cost  of  maintaining  the  library  is  $125  annually, 
with  $200  for  purchase  of  books,  and  $50  for  librarian's  sal- 
ary. A  fee  of  $1  is  charged  for  yearly  subscription. 

There  are  1200  volumes,  18  magazines  and  5  papers  in 
the  library.  The  circulation  is  1500.  Over  100  volumes 
were  added  last  year. 

The  library  has  a  typewritten  catalog,  but  is  not  classi- 
fied. 

Population,  850  ;  assessed  valuation,  about  $350,000. 


¥    ¥ 


TOPEKA. 

KANSAS  ACADEMY  OF   SCIENCE   LIBRARY. 

The  Kansas  Academy  of  Science  was  founded  in  1868 
and  its  library  was  established  in  1871.  The  duties  of 
librarian  were  performed  by  the  secretary,  and  later  by  a 
librarian  appointed  by  the  Academy.  At  the  present  time 
the  offices  of  librarian  and  secretary  are  combined.  The 
library  is  situated  in  the  Academy  rooms  in  the  state - 
house,  at  Topeka.  It  is  free  to  the  public,  and  is  purely  a 
reference  library  in  science.  It  contains  the  journals  and 
reports  of  the  various  scientific  societies  of  the  United 
States  and  foreign  countries.  These  reports  are  obtained 
in  exchange  for  the  Academy  Transactions,  which  have 
been  published  in  eighteen  volumes,  varying  in  size  from 
—6 


82  Gopefta. 


a  few  pages,  in  the  early  numbers,  to  350  pages  in  the  later 
volumes.  The  exchange  list  includes  over  500  names  of 
societies  and  libraries 

There  are  now  over  5000  volumes  and  8000  pamphlets ; 
about  1200  pamphlets  and  300  volumes  being  added  each 
year.  The  library  has  a  card  catalog  of  authors  and  sub- 
jects of  papers  in  the  different  volumes. 

The  library  is  controlled  by  the  officers  of  the  Kansas 
Academy  of  Science,  which  is  supported  by  the  state,  and 
the  library  fund  is  provided  from  the  Academy  treasury. 
The  officers  are :  President,  J.  C.  Cooper,  Topeka  ;  vice- 
presidents,  Edward  Bartow,  Lawrence,  J.  A.  Yates,  Ottawa ; 
treasurer,  Alva  J.  Smith,  Emporia ;  secretary,  Gr.  P.  Grims- 
ley  Topeka. 


TOPEKA. 

FREE    PUBLIC   LIBRARY. 

The  first  movement  toward  establishing  a  public  library 
in  the  city  of  Topeka  was  made  in  1869  or  1870,  by  a  few 
public- spirited  ladies  who  formed  the  Ladies'  Library  As- 
sociation, and  placed  about  200  books  in  one  of  the  shops 
on  Kansas  avenue,  \\here  the  ladies  took  turns  in  giving 
out  books  on  Saturday  afternoons. 

From  this  small  beginning,  the  Topeka  Library  Asso- 
ciation was  formed  in  1871.  In  1877,  through  liberal  do- 
nations by  the  citizens,  the  library  was  changed  from  a 
subscription  to  a  free  library.  During  the  year  following, 
the  city  council  passed  an  ordinance  providing  for  the  run- 
ning expenses. 

Until  1883,  the  association  rented  rooms,  but  in  that 
year,  under  an  act  of  the  legislature,  a  fine  building  was 
erected  on  the  State  Capitol  grounds  for  a  free  public  li- 
brary, which  was  dedicated  in  April,  1883,  with  appropriate 
ceremonies.  The  Atchison,  Topeka  &  Santa  Fe  and  Union 


ftopefca*  83 


Pacific  railroad  companies  were  induced  to  give  $25,000 
towards  its  cost,  the  remaining  $20,000  being  provided  by 
personal  donations  and  a  building  loan,  which  is  being  paid 
off  by  a  generous  friend.  The  property  is  owned  by  the 
Topeka  Library  Association,  subject  to  its  deed  to  "The 
Board  of  Directors  of  the  Free  Public  Library"  condi- 
tioned upon  continued  maintenance. 

On  the  main  floor  are  the  general  delivery  room,  juvenile 
department,  newspaper  room,  and  librarian's  office.  On 
the  second  floor  the  large  room,  Library  Hall,  is  used  as  a 
reading,  reference  and  art  department,  with  four  smaller 
reading-  or  study-rooms  opening  into  it.  Here  are  kept 
the  periodicals,  current  numbers  and  bound  volumes,  refer- 
ence books  of  all  kinds,  public  documents,  etc.  In  this 
room  is  kept  a  fine  collection  of  oil  paintings  and  other  pic- 
tures, statuary,  and  bric-a-brac,  many  of  which  were  for- 
merly owned  by  Colonel  and  Mrs.  A.  S.  Johnson,  and 
presented  to  the  library  by  their  friends.  An  extensive 
collection  of  unique  specimens  of  European  ceramic  and 
vitric  art,  made  by  Mr.  Edward  Wilder  in  the  summer  of 
1901,  and  a  collection  of  about  800  photographs  of  Euro- 
pean churches,  monuments,  paintings,  etc.,  all  placed  in 
Library  Hall  as  a  permanent  loan,  add  very  much  to  the 
interest  and  educational  value  of  the  room.  The  photo- 
graphs will  be  displayed  under  glass,  arranged  on  shelves 
along  the  sides  of  the  room,  the  exhibit  being  changed 
from  time  to  time.  Numerous  individual  loans  and  gifts, 
and  statuary  and  paintings,  purchased  from  a  permanent 
art  fund,  add  very  much  to  the  attractiveness  of  the  Library 
Hall. 

Of  the  sixteen  trustees,  twelve  are  named  by  the  mayor, 
one-half  being  upon  the  recommendation  of  the  Library 
Association.  The  present  board  consists  of  Messrs.  N.  F. 
Handy,  H.  T.  Chase,  J.  L.  Shellabarger,  J.  R.  Mulvane,  C. 
B.  Merriam,  C.  S.  Gleed,  E.  F.  Ware,  C.  J.  Devlin,  M.  A. 
Low,  J.  P.  Davis,  E.  Wilder,  Dr.  C.  F.  Menninger,  with  the 
mayor,  the  governor,  chief  justice,  and  speaker  of  the  house. 

The  former  librarians  were  Miss  Griffith,  Mrs.  Craigin, 
Mrs.  Kittie  Kellam,  Mr.  Olin  S.  Davis,  and  Mr.  William 


84  Gopefca, 


Beer,  The  present  librarian,  Mrs.  Evelyn  S.  Lewis,  has 
been  in  charge  since  January,  1892.  Her  assistants  are 
the  Misses  Lucena  Mattoon,  Carrie  Medlicott,  Mary  Cham- 
berlain, and  Howard  Berrett  who  has  charge  of  the  reading 
and  reference  room. 

The  library  is  now  supported  by  an  annual  tax  of  one- 
half  mill,  which  amounts  to  about  $5000  per  annum,  fines 
collected  about  $200.  Operating  expenses  are  about  $5600 
—  salaries  about  $3150,  binding  about  $550,  and  replaced 
books  and  periodicals  about  $350.  New  books  are  pur- 
chased from  the  income  of  the  following  funds:  Stormont, 
$5000;  Mulvane,  $1800;  Hampson,  $1000;  Westinghouse 
Air  Brake  Company,  $1000;  Kansas  Pure  Food  Associa- 
tion, $1000 ;  Kansas  Town  Company,  $1000 ;  Lantry,  $1000 
— total  $12,800.  In  addition  to  these  there  is  an  Alden 
Speare  art  fund  of  $1000. 

There  are  now  about  19,000  volumes  in  the  library,  in- 
cluding bound  copies  of  periodicals  and  public  documents; 
no  account  being  kept  of  the  unbound  periodicals  and  mis- 
cellaneous pamphlets.  About  1009  bound  books  were 
added  in  1902. 

The  building  is  free  to  all  persons  who  obey  the  rules, 
and  any  one  may  borrow  books  free  of  charge  who  is  a  re- 
sponsible resident  of  the  city  or  can  furnish  a  proper  guar- 
antee or  who  makes  a  deposit  of  three  dollars. 

The  circulation  of  books  for  home  use  for  1902  was 
84,850,  a  gain  of  several  thousand  over  that  of  the  previous 
year;  the  use  of  books  in  the  first  floor  reading-rooms, 
11,312;  visitors  and  readers  in  upper  hall  and  reading- 
rooms,  27,411;  Sunday  attendance,  2927  — total,  30,338. 

Catalogs  have  been  printed  of  all  books  except  the  pub- 
lic documents.  A  supplement  is  issued  every  other  year. 
A  card  catalog  giving  a  classified  list  and  an  author  index 
is  kept  up  to  date  for  the  use  of  the  librarians. 

The  classification  in  use  was  founded  upon  that  of  the 
St.  Louis  Public  School  Library  in  1877  and  has  not  been 
changed,  the  management  believing  that  it  has  advantages 
justifying  its  retention. 

The  collection  of  books  is  a  miscellaneous  one.     As  in 


Gopefca,  85 


all  free  public  libraries,  the  demand  for  fiction  exceeds 
that  of  any  other  class  of  books.  In  1902,  of  the  total 
number  of  volumes  in  the  library,  6654  were  of  fiction, 
4973  adult,  and  1681  juvenile ;  circulation  of  adult  fiction, 
46,656;  juvenile,  21,738;  total,  68,394— total  circulation, 
84,850.  Next  in  order  as  to  circulation  come  travels,  litera- 
ture, history,  biography,  fine  arts,  social  science,  theology. 
Population,  about  37,000;  assessed  valuation,  $10,500,000. 


TOPEKA. 

MASONIC   LIBRARY. 

This  library  is  purely  Masonic,  but  is  open  for  the  public, 
if  they  wish  to  read  any  of  the  material.  The  library  is 
owned  by  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Ancient,  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons  of  Kansas,  and  is  under  the  immediate  control  of  the 
Grand  Secretary,  who  is  also  librarian.  Among  the  books 
are  some  of  the  most  rare  and  valuable  Masonic  works  in  ex- 
istence. There  are  about  1500  volumes  bound  and  perhaps 
the  same  number  unbound.  The  books  are  bound  in  half 
morocco,  all  of  a  uniform  style.  They  consist  of  Masonic 
reports  from  other  grand  jurisdictions  throughout  the  civ- 
ilized world,  Masonic  laws  and  digests,  Masonic  histories, 
encyclopedias,  Masonic  journals  and  magazines,  periodicals, 
Masonic  addresses  on  various  subjects,  historical  sketches 
relative  to  celebrations,  such  as  St.  John's  days,  June  24 
and  December  27,  Washington  memorials,  and  other  sub- 
jects. A  report  is  made  annually  to  the  Grand  Lodge  as 
to  the  condition  and  needs  of  the  library.  The  Grand 
Lodge  is  very  liberal,  and  the  librarian  is  authorized  to 
purchase  such  books  as  he  may  desire  for  the  library. 

It  is  only  within  the  last  five  years  that  any  interest  has 
been  shown  in  the  welfare  of  the  library.  During  that 
time,  Mr.  Albert  K.  Wilson,  Grand  Secretary,  has  arranged 


86  Gopefca* 


the  material  and  placed  it  in  shape,  so  that  it  might  be 
consulted  readily.  He  has  a  cataloguer  at  work  making  an 
index  on  cards.  It  is  expected  that  this  work  will  be  con- 
tinued indefinitely. 


TOPEKA. 

LIBRARY   OF   THE   KANSAS   STATE   HISTORICAL   SOCIETY. 

The  library  is  an  integral  part  of  the  Kansas  State  His- 
torical Society,  which  was  organized  at  Topeka,  December 
13,  1875,  in  accordance  with  a  resolution  offered  by  D.  W. 
Wilder,  and  adopted  by  the  State  Editorial  Association,  at 
Manhattan,  April  7,  1875. 

There  are  ninety-nine  trustees,  one-third  being  chosen 
annually  by  the  society.  George  W.  Martin,  the  secretary, 
is  ex  officio  librarian.  Franklin  G.  Adams  was  secretary 
from  February  4,  1876,  until  his  death,  December  2,  1899. 
The  assistants  are  Miss  Zu  Adams,  George  A.  Root,  Miss 
Lucy  S.  Greene,  Miss  Amelia  Martin,  and  William  E. 
Bacon. 

The  society  occupies  the  south  wing  of  the  fourth  floor 
of  the  State  Capitol,  covering  a  floor  space  of  9000  square 
feet.  There  are  nine  large  rooms  and  two  small  ones,  ar- 
ranged about  a  central  corridor.  Framed  pictures  are 
hung  on  the  walls  of  the  corridor  and  in  the  office  of  the 
secretary.  Marble  busts  are  also  placed  on  brackets  upon 
the  inner  wall.  Show-cases,  with  relics,  occupy  the  main 
floor  of  the  corridor.  Three  rooms  are  devoted  to  the  fil- 
ing and  shelving  of  the  newspaper  collection ;  five  are  oc- 
cupied by  the  Kansas  books  and  general  library  of  the 
society.  The  manuscripts  and  more  valuable  papers  are 
kept  in  a  vault  adjoining  the  secretary's  room.  Five  of  the 
rooms  are  fitted  up  with  steel  shelving. 

This  society  is  supported  by  state  appropriation,  and  re- 


Gopefca*  87 


ceives  annually  $7320.  There  is  a  small  sum  received  from 
membership  fees,  which  is  devoted  to  special  historical  re- 
search, Gifts  have  been  confined  to  books,  manuscripts, 
pictures,  newspapers,  etc.  The  sum  of  $5820  is  expended 
for  salaries,  and  $700  for  purchase  of  books. 

The  library  now  numbers  123,139  volumes  (24,424  books, 
25,926  periodicals  and  newspapers,  72,789  pamphlets ) ; 
4018  volumes  being  added  last  year. 

The  society  has  published  thirteen  biennial  reports, 
1876-1902,  seven  volumes  of  Transactions  containing  his- 
torical papers.  A  catalog*  of  Kansas  state  documents  ap- 
peared in  the  sixth  volume  of  Transactions,  1900. 

The  society  has  a  collection  of  5500  pictures,  consisting 
of  portraits  of  prominent  Kansans,  national  celebrities,  and 
views  of  historic  and  interesting  places  in  Kansas.  The 
manuscripts,  numbering  25,786,  embrace  the  diaries  and 
correspondence  of  early  missionaries  to  the  Indians  in  Kan- 
sas, official  records  of  the  Indian  department,  records  of  the 
political  bodies  of  the  territory,  correspondence  and  papers 
of  early  Kansans,  original  papers  on  various  topics  of  Kan- 
sas history.  There  are  6616  relics,  illustrative  of  Kansas 
history  from  prehistoric  times  to  the  present.  There  are 
also  5014  atlases  and  maps,  covering  especially  Kansas  and 
the  West. 

The  entire  library  is  classified  by  the  Dewey  system,  and 
has  a  catalog  by  author  and  subject. 

The  library  is  especially  strong  in  material  relating  to 
the  history  of  Kansas,  its  literature,  art,  schools,  churches,  so- 
cieties, and  possesses  a  very  nearly  complete  set  of  the  doc- 
uments published  by  the  state,  and  16,000  bound  volumes 
of  Kansas  newspapers,  from  1854  to  1902.  The  general 
library  is  especially  devoted  to  United  States  and  state  his- 
tory, description  and  travels  in  the  West,  genealogy,  biog- 
raphy, Indians,  slavery,  besides  the  general  subjects  of 
sociology,  religion,  science,  and  the  useful  arts,  with  a  very 
good  collection  of  federal  documents. 

*NOTE. — This  catalog  was  prepared  by  Miss  Zu  Adams,  and  is 
regarded  as  one  of  the  best  state  lists. 


88  Gopeft   , 


TOPEKA. 

KANSAS   STATE   LIBRARY. 

The  library  was  established  in  1860.  In  the  early  days 
of  the  library's  existence,  the  duties  of  librarian  were  per. 
formed  by  the  State  Auditor.  Since  the  year  1870,  a  State 
Librarian  has  been  employed,  and  the  following  persons 
have  rilled  the  position  successively:  D.  Dickinson,  S.  A- 
Kingman,  H.  J.  Dennis,  James  L.  King,  Annie  L.  Diggs* 
and  James  L.  King. 

The  assistants  are  Kosamond  S.  Horton,  Helen  B.  Dodge, 
Lulu  Clugston,  and  Herbert  Clayton. 

There  are  seven  trustees,  consisting  of  the  seven  justices 
of  the  Supreme  Court.  Present  board :  Frank  Doster,  W. 
A.  Johnston,  W.  R.  Smith,  A.  L.  Greene,  J.  C.  Pollock,  E. 
W.  Cunningham,  and  R.  A.  Burch. 

Biennial  reports  are  issued  by  the  librarian.  A  printed 
catalog  of  the  law  department  was  issued  in  1902. 

The  library  is  free  to  the  public  and  is  purely  a  refer- 
ence library.  It  is  especially  strong  in  law  and  medicine, 
and  has  a  good  collection  of  reference  works. 

There  are  in  the  library  43,872  volumes,  5594  pamphlets ; 
of  these,  2500  volumes  and  584  pamphlets  were  added  last 
year. 

The  annual  appropriation  for  books  is :  Law,  $1000 ; 
miscellaneous,  $500;  for  salary  of  the  librarian,  $1600; 
two  assistants  at  $900  each,  and  two  at  $600  each. 

The  library  is  classified  by  the  Dewey  system,  and  has 
a  card  catalog,  typewritten,  by  author  and  subject. 


Gopefca*  89 


TOPEKA. 

TRAVELING   LIBRARIES  COMMISSION. 

As  in  most  states,  the  traveling. library  movement  in 
Kansas  was  begun  by  club  women.  The  first  to  observe 
its  need  and  take  active  steps  in  advancing  the  plan  was 
Mrs.  Lucy  B.  Johnston,  of  Topeka,  who  still  remains  a 
worker  in  its  cause.  The  matter  was  first  taken  up  by  the 
state  federation  in  May,  1897,  while  Mrs.  Willis  Lord  Moore 
was  president,  continued  under  her  successor,  Mrs.  J.  C. 
McClintock,  and  completed  under  the  administrations  of 
Mrs.  S.  R.  Peters  and  Mrs.  Mary  V.  Humphrey.  Club 
women  and  the  wives  and  daughters  of  the  members  of  the 
legislature  gave  loyal  support  to  the  work. 

In  May,  1898,  active  business  was  begun  under  the  super- 
vision of  the  Kansas  Social  Science  Federation.  A  pledge 
of  500  books  and  $20  in  money  was  made  by  the  Topeka 
branch  of  the  federation.  This  encouraged  those  in  charge, 
and  it  was  determined  to  raise  3000  books  by  donation, 
as  the  nucleus  of  a  permanent  traveling-library  system. 
This  was  accomplished,  and  it  was  decided  to  ask  the  legis- 
lature to  assume  further  care  of  the  books  and  the  future 
development  of  the  work,  thus  making  it  a  state  institution 
and  placing  it  on  a  more  substantial  basis. 

At  the  legislative  session  of  1899,  a  law  was  passed  estab- 
lishing the  Kansas  Traveling  Libraries  Commission,  mak- 
ing an  appropriation  of  $1000  a  year  for  its  support ;  also 
providing  that  certain  books  of  the  State  Library  be  made 
available  for  the  use  of  the  traveling-library  department, 
and  that  the  commission  should  be  entitled  to  the  services 
of  the  assistant  librarian  of  the  State  Library.  In  com- 
pliance with  this  law,  the  trustees  of  the  State  Library 
appointed  the  following" persons  to  be  members  of  the  com- 
mission :  Mrs.  Annie  L.  Diggs,  chairman ;  Mrs.  Mary  V. 
Humphrey,  Mrs.  Lucy  B.  Johnston,  Mr.  Edward  Wilder, 
and  Mr.  H.  Gr.  Larimer.  The  commission  organized  July  1, 
1899,  and  elected  Mr.  James  L.  King  secretary. 

The  3000  books  and  34  cases  accumulated  by  the  Social 


90  Gopefca, 


Science  Federation  were  transferred  to  the  commission, 
and  are  now  a  part  of  the  traveling-library  branch  of  the 
State  Library.  All  of  these  books  were  acquired  by  dona- 
tions from  clubs  and  individuals,  either  by  single  libraries, 
fractional  libraries,  or  in  sets  of  fifty  books  each.  Com- 
plete libraries  of  fifty  books  were  received  from  the  follow- 
ing sources :  Friends  in  Council,  Lawrence ;  Ralston  Club, 
Topeka;  Ladies'  Literary  Club,  Concordia;  Friends  in 
Council,  Topeka;  Saturday  Club,  Hiawatha;  Sigournean 
Club,  Ottawa;  Ottawa  Club,  Ottawa;  Twentieth  Century 
Club,  Lawrence ;  Concordia  Club,  Concordia ;  the  Noble 
L.  Prentis  library,  the  Halderman  library,  the  John  H. 
Vincent  library,  the  Ross  Burns  library,  the  Charles 
Robinson  library,  the  Lillie  H.  Kellam  library,  and  the 
Mary  E.  Rossington  library.  Probably  200  persons  have 
contributed  one  or  more  books  to  the  collection.  Mrs. 
Sara  T.  D.  Robinson,  of  Lawrence,  gave  250  books,  and  is 
the  largest  individual  donor. 

During  the  last  two  years  99  new  cases  have  been  added 
to  the  117  on  hand,  making  a  total  of  216  now  available. 
With  the  appropriation  of  $4000  per  year,  it  has  been  pos- 
sible to  purchase  new  libraries  for  the  additional  cases  as 
fast  as  orders  have  been  received  for  them. 

Two  years  ago  there  were  5565  books  in  the  possession 
of  the  commission,  now  there  are  10,332 ;  2332  being  added 
last  year.  During  this  time  346  libraries  have  been  sent 
to  the  various  communities  of  the  state.  A  transportation 
fee  of  two  dollars  was  collected  on  each  library  ordered. 
The  Poole  system  of  classification  is  used. 

The  libraries  sent  out  in  this  state  are  made  up  to  suit 
the  individual,  club,  school  or  society  ordering.  The  only 
fixed  libraries  sent  out  by  the  commission  are  those  planned 
and  prepared  on  certain  subjects  for  club  and  class  work. 
This  plan,  while  calling  for  more  labor  in  preparing  the 
libraries  for  use,  is  regarded  as  having  the  advantage  over 
the  custom  of  some  of  the  states  which  use  the  fixed  libra- 
ries entirely,  in  that  the  needs  and  tastes  of  the  people  are 
more  effectively  reached.  The  libraries  have  never  been 
advertised  to  the  people  systematically,  nor  has  the  Kansas 


Gopefca*  91 


commission  ever  sent  out  an  organizer.  It  has  been  only 
through  the  interest  taken  by  the  press,  and  through  indi- 
vidual effort  of  Kansas  club  women,  and  the  effect  of  the 
libraries,  that  the  traveling-library  movement  has  grown  in 
this  state.  These  libraries  reach  every  class  of  readers  in 
the  state.  The  ranchman,  miles  from  books  of  any  descrip- 
tion, sends  for  a  library,  and  his  neighbors  read  the  books 
with  him.  Orders  are  received  from  groups  of  people  liv- 
ing in  localities  remote  from  railroads  and  having  no  other 
facilities  for  reading.  The  teachers  of  city  schools  and 
those  of  country  districts,  church  societies,  literary  socie- 
ties, reading  clubs,  and  study  clubs,  are  patrons  of  the 
traveling  library.  The  chief  benefit  resulting  is  the  estab- 
lishment of  public  library  associations  in  small  towns. 
According  to  the  average  report  from  the  library  stations, 
each  case  of  fifty  books  has  had  thirty  regular  readers  and 
a  circulation  of  150,  the  346  libraries  making  a  total  circu- 
lation of  51,900  for  the  past  two  years.  These  libraries 
have  reached  94  counties  and  274  cities.  The  records  also 
show  that  where  the  libraries  are  sent  their  readers  usually 
become  permanent  patrons,  ordering  regularly  at  the  close 
of  each  six-months  period. 

The  commission  publishes  a  report  biennially.  The  first 
was  issued  in  1901,  for  1900-1901 ;  the  second  in  1902,  for 
1901-1902. 

As  the  traveling- library  department  is  an  adjunct  of  the 
State  Library,  it  occupies  the  same  quarters  in  the  Capitol. 

Owing  to  the  retirement  of  Mrs.  Diggs  as  State  Librarian, 
the  commission  is  now  composed  of  the  following  members : 
James  L.  King,  State  Librarian,  chairman  ;  Lucy  B.  John- 
ston; Mary  Vance  Humphrey;  Edward  Wilder;  H.  G. 
Larimer ;  and  Nellie  Gf.  Armentrout,  secretary. 


92 


TOPEKA. 

BOSWELL   LIBRARY,   WASHBURN   COLLEGE. 

Boswell  Library,  erected  in  1886,  is  a  beautiful  structure, 
well  suited  to  its  purpose.  The  interior  is  artistically  fin- 
ished in  hard  wood  and  tinted  glass.  The  high  basement 
has  now  been  assigned  to  the  department  of  English  litera- 
ture, with  its  lecture-room  and  department  library.  The 
first  floor  contains  the  principal  stack-room,  a  large  reading- 
room,  and  a  reference  room.  Upon  the  floor  above  is  an- 
other stack-room  and  two  large  rooms  devoted  to  the  social 
life  of  the  college.  The  art  department,  with  its  statuary 
and  pictures,  adds  to  the  attractiveness  of  this  part  of  the 
building.  It  is  thought  by  many  that  the  architectural 
features  of  the  library  render  it  the  most  artistic  building 
on  the  campus. 

The  library  now  contains  about  11,000  volumes,  which 
are  made  accessible  by  means  of  a  dictionary  card  catalog. 
A  law  library  of  1000  volumes  is  a  recent  addition.  In 
1901,  a  gift  of  800  volumes  from  the  library  of  John  Davis, 
of  Junction  City,  was  received. 

The  reading-room  is  well  supplied  with  literary,  socio- 
logical and  scientific  periodicals.  The  library  is  open 
during  hours  convenient  for  students  in  forenoons  and 
afternoons.  Attendants  are  in  charge  to  assist  students  in 
finding  material  on  subjects  which  they  wish  to  investigate. 

[Adapted  from  Washburn  College  Bulletins.] 


93 


TROY. 

S.   L.   K.   ASSOCIATION   LIBRARY. 

February  7,  1879,  the  present  S.  L.  K.  Association  was 
formed,  having  as  its  object  social  extension  and  self-im- 
provement. September  6,  1879,  the  association  opened  a 
public  library. 

Any  unmarried  woman  over  sixteen  years  of  age  and  of 
good  moral  standing  is  eligible  to  membership  in  the  asso- 
ciation, but  anyone  marrying  after  joining  the  association 
is  not  barred  from  membership.  From  October  1  to  May 
31,  meetings  are  held  every  Friday  afternoon  in  the  library 
room  at  three  o'clock. 

In  December,  1893,  the  association  obtained  a  state 
charter,  the  object  being  to  maintain  a  public  library. 
Many  changes  became  necessary  in  order  to  comply  with 
the  terms  of  the  charter. 

In  1897,  the  association  joined  the  K.  S.  S.  F.  and  chose 
for  its  motto  "Knowledge  is  power,"  for  its  seal  an  open 
book,  and  for  its  pin  the  same  with  the  cabalistic  letters 
S.  L.  K.  The  colors  are  white  and  green,  emblematic  of 
aspiration  for  intellectual  growth,  and  the  geranium  is  the 
flower. 

The  association  now  has  forty-two  members.  Each  year 
a  board  of  directors  is  elected  and  a  president  is  chosen 
from  the  number,  and  the  other  officers  are  appointed.  The 
present  board  consists  of  Mrs.  Gertrude  Doughty,  Mrs. 
Etha  Dinsmore,  Miss  Margaret  Schletzbaum,  Miss  Lou 
Nelson,  and  Miss  Blanche  Saxton,  with  the  following  offi- 
cers :  Mrs.  Gertrude  Doughty,  president ;  Mrs.  Chloe  L. 
Parper,  treasurer ;  Miss  Mabel  Ellis,  secretary.  The  libra- 
rians are  Miss  Anna  Zimmerman,  Miss  Adda  Myers,  and 
Miss  Sara  Van  Buskirk. 

The  library  is  open  every  Friday  from  three  until  five 
o'clock,  the  librarians  serving  each  third  Friday.  They  are 
paid  no  salaries,  but  receive  each  a  free  subscription  for 
the  library. 


94 


The  subscription  fee  is  one  dollar  per  year  for  members 
and  two  dollars  for  non-members.  A  room  is  rented  for 
the  library  which  now  owns  1500  volumes. 

Population,  2720 ;  assessed  valuation,  $658,768. 


¥    ¥ 


WEIR. 

PUBLIC   LIBRARY. 

The  library  was  established  and  opened  to  the  public 
January  1,  1896.  Previously  the  local  society  of  the  W.  C. 
T.  U.  conducted  a  reading-room  in  a  store  building,  which 
was  kept  open  three  nights  in  a  week.  After  interesting 
the  city  in  the  work,  the  matter  was  put  before  the  public 
at  the  city  election.  The  public  library  was  the  result. 

The  library  is  governed  by  a  board  of  directors,  consist- 
ing of  twelve  ladies  and  the  mayor.  The  following  have 
been  librarians  since  1896 :  Miss  Mamie  Short,  one  year ; 
Miss  Luella  Gager,  one  year ;  Miss  Evelyn  Hoag,  five  years. 

The  city  provides  rooms  in  the  city  hall,  well  lighted 
and  heated.  The  library  is  maintained  by  taxation  and 
membership  fees,  which  are  one  dollar  per  year  for  each 
member.  The  reading-room  is  open  to  the  public  from  ten 
A.  M.  until  nine  P.  M.,  every  day  except  Sunday. 

There  is  a  good  selection  of  reference  works,  but  fiction 
has  the  greatest  demand  and  constitutes  one-half  of  the  li- 
brary. A  traveling  library  from  the  State  Library,  Topeka, 
is  received  and  exchanged  every  two  months.  There  are 
now  700  volumes,  5  current  periodicals,  6  papers  in  the  li- 
brary; 50  volumes  being  added  last  year.  The  Dewey 
system  of  classification  is  used. 

The  salary  of  the  librarian  is  $180  per  year,  with  no  as- 
sistant. 

The  population  of  Weir  is  about  3000,  and  includes  a 
great  many  foreigners  and  miners,  who  make  very  little  use 
of  the  library. 


Wicbita,  95 


WELLINGTON. 

PUBLIC   LIBRAKY. 

The  public  library  in  Wellington  is  the  property  of  the 
Prentis  Club  (a  ladies'  club),  and  was  established  in  1899. 
The  club  members  take  turns  serving  as  librarian,  There 
are  500  volumes  in  the  library,  and  about  $50  is  ex- 
pended annually  for  the  purchase  of  books.  A  printed 
dictionary  catalog  has  been  issued,  and  the  library  has  been 
classified.  There  are  reference  works,  but  the  library  is 
strongest  in  works  of  fiction.  Books  are  loaned  for  a  term 
of  two  weeks. 

The  library  occupies  rented  quarters. 

Population,  5000 ;  assessed  valuation,  $8»6,766, 


¥    ¥    ¥ 


WICHITA. 

FAIRMOUNT   COLLEGE    LIBRARY. 

At  the  end  of  its  eighth  year,  Pairmount  College  owns 
21,000  volumes  and  a  considerable  amount  of  unbound 
material. 

The  books  have  been  arranged  and  classified  by  the  Cut- 
ter expansive  system.  The  dictionary  card  catalog  is  well 
under  way. 

Students  are  encouraged  to  make  use  of  the  books. 
Each  student  is  charged  a  library  fee  of  fifty  cents  a  term. 
The  funds  thus  received  are  used  to  buy  new  books  for  the 
library. 

An  attempt  has  been  made  to  secure  a  collection  of  Kan- 
sas material. 

The  Ladies'  Library  Club,  composed  of  resident  ladies, 
has  for  its  chief  purpose  the  promotion  of  the  growth  of 
the  college  library.  The  club  dates  from  the  early  days, 


96  Wicbita. 


before  college  organization  took  place,  Much  of  the  prog- 
ress made  in  building  up  the  library  is  justly  attributed  to 
the  persistent  work  of  these  noble  women.  The  club  has 
fortnightly  sessions  for  the  discussion  of  a  program  and 
for  business. 

[From  Fairmount  College  catalogue,  June  20,  1903.] 


¥    ¥    ¥ 


WICHITA. 

PUBLIC   LIBRAKY. 

The  library  was  established  in  1891  with  a  few  volumes 
from  the  county  library  given  to  the  city  as  a  nucleus  for  a 
public  library.  A  membership  fee  of  one  dollar  was  charged. 
The  library  was  open  to  the  public  two  days  each  week. 

The  library  is  now  under  the  direction  of  a  special  com- 
mittee chosen  from  the  Board  of  Education,  and  is  free  to 
citizens.  The  present  committee  of  three  members,  ap- 
pointed by  the  president  of  the  board,  consists  of  Mr.  J. 
L.  Francis,  Mr.  Jno.  Martin,  and  Dr.  Levi  Hornor. 

Miss  Anna  Eugenie  Wiegand  is  librarian,  with  two  as- 
sistants. The  other  librarians  from  the  beginning  have 
been :  Miss  Cora  McKibben,  Miss  Blanche  Martin,  Miss 
Dula  Pease,  and  Miss  Laura  B.  Gross. 

The  city  gives  the  use  of  a  portion  of  the  city  hall  for 
library  purposes.  The  annual  receipts  from  taxation  are 
between  $4000  and  $4500,  and  of  this  amount  $1980  is  spent 
for  salaries,  $800  for  purchase  of  books,  and  $1000  for  bind- 
ing. 

The  library  contains  10,000  volumes,  of  which  600  were 
added  last  year.  The  books  are  classified  now  by  the  Poole 
system,  but  are  being  re-classified  by  the  Dewey  system.  A 
printed  catalog  is  now  used.  A  card  catalog  will  be  begun 
soon. 


WinfieU).  97 


The  reference  department  is  the  strongest  one  in  the  li- 
brary, and  gives  much  assistance  to  the  students  attending 
the  various  educational  institutions  of  the  city. 

Population,  30,000;  assessed  valuation,  $5,220,448. 


¥    ¥ 


WINFIELD. 

SOUTHWEST   KANSAS   COLLEGE    LIBRARY. 

Southwest  Kansas  College  was  established  at  Winfield 
in  1886  by  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

The  library  occupies  a  large  room  on  the  first  floor  of  col- 
lege building  and  is  open  to  students  at  all  hours.  The 
Young  Ladies'  Literary  Club  of  the  city  has  furnished  this 
room  with  tables  and  bookcases.  During  the  year  valuable 
books  have  been  received  from  friends,  numbering,  in  all, 
271  volumes.  The  reading-room  is  supplied  with  a  num- 
ber of  the  leading  periodicals. 

[Adapted  from  Year-book.] 


-7 


98  1£.  fife.  C.  H. 


Y.  M.  C.  A.  READING-ROOMS. 

The  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  maintains  read- 
ing-rooms in  connection  with  other  local  work  at  the  fol- 
lowing towns  in  this  state :  Argentine,  Arkansas  City, 
Coffeyville,  Ellis,  Fort  Scott,  Hoisington,  Lawrence,  Leav- 
enworth,  Newton,  Ottawa,  Parsons,  Topeka,  Wichita,  Win- 
field. 

ARKANSAS   CITY. 

The  association  has  640  volumes  in  its  library. 

COFFEYVILLE. 

The  association  owns  a  large  building.  The  reading- 
room  was  established  in  February,  1902,  has  2200  volumes, 
and  circulation  of  5798  volumes.  A  printed  catalog  has 
been  issued  (1902). 

FORT   SCOTT. 

The  Railroad  and  City  Y.  M.  C.  A.  rents  its  quarters  in 
a  two-story  building  in  the  center  of  the  city.  May  1, 1900, 
a  library  was  presented  by  Miss  Helen  M.  Gould.  There 
are  1265  volumes,  300  added  last  year,  with  a  circulation  of 
2913.  The  books  are  classified  by  the  Dewey  system. 

LAWRENCE. 

The  association  rents  its  quarters,  and  has  a  reading- 
room,  which  was  established  in  1885.  There  are  about  300 
volumes  for  use. 

TOPEKA. 

The  association  has  400  volumes  in  its  reading-room. 
The  railroad  association  has  300  volumes  in  its  library. 

WINFIELD. 

The  association  was  established  here  in  1902,  and  has 
300  volumes  in  its  reading-room. 


Scbool  Xibrariee* 


99 


KANSAS  SCHOOL  LIBRARIES. 

LIST   OF   TOWNS   IN   KANSAS  WHICH  HAVE  SCHOOL  LIBRARIES,  AND  THE 
NUMBER  OF  VOLUMES   IN   EACH   LIBRARY. 

By  permission  of  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction  I.  L.  Dayhoff,  these 
statistics  are  taken  from  the  Thirteenth  Biennial  Report  of  the  Kansas  Depart- 
ment of  Public  Instruction,  1901-1902. 


CITIES  OF  THE  FIRST   CLASS. 
vols. 

Atchison 800 

Fort  Scott 2,500 

Kansas  City 5,884 


vols. 


Leavenworth 6,383 

Topeka  


CITIES   OF  THE  SECOND   CLASS. 


vols. 

Abilene 1,520 

Arkansas  City 450 

Anthony 300 

Argentine 300 

Baxter  Springs 200 

Burlington 500 

Beloit 1,500 

Belleville 400 

Columbus 1,811 

Clay  Center 2,000 

Chetopa 135 

Coffey  ville 500 

Chanute 300 

Caldwell 800 

Dodge  City 200 

El  Dorado 1,000 

Emporia 2,000 

Eureka 200 

Garnett 300 

Great  Bend 500 

Galena 585 

Girard 400 

Garden  City 12 

Goodland 215 

Hiawatha 400 

Horton 1,050 

Harper 200 


vols. 

Holton 2,894 

Hutchinson    1,000 

Independence 600 

Junction  City 1,200 

Kingman 700 

Lawrence 500 

Larned 600 

Lyons 1,000 

Marion 500 

Marysville 1,000 

McPherson 657 

Minneapolis 1,000 

Manhattan.. 116 

Newton 200 

Ottawa 500 

Olathe 500 

Oswego 350 

Osawatomie 1,600 

Osage  City 1,200 

Oaborne 310 

Pittsburg 500 

Parsons 1,300 

Rosedale 200 

Seneca 1,402 

Weir  City 300 

Wellington 600 

Winfield  . ,                           .  1,475 


100 


Scbool  libraries. 


CITIES   OF   THE   THIRD    CLASS. 


vols. 

Augusta 500 

AshlaDd 450 

Arcadia 15 

Attica 430 

Americus 200 

Axtell 400 

Almena 400 

Ada 10 

Atwood 500 

Arlington 426 

Alden 130 

Alma 50 

Altoona 200 

Bronson 200 

Burden 182 

Burrton 250 

Burr  Oak 175 

Blue  Mound 87 

Beattie 200 

Bern 204 

Burlingame 1,890 

Bennington 67 

Belle  Plaine 1,000 

Barnes 50 

Buffalo 20 

Bonner  Springs 250 

Colony 300 

Cottonwood  Falls 700 

Cedarvale 350 

Concordia 1,500 

Clyde 300 

Cherokee 300 

Chicopee 200 

Chapman 60 

Cimarron 84 

Coolidge 50 

Circleville 300 

Canton 160 

Caney 300 

Centralia 500 

Corning 500 

Carbondale 50 

Culver 50 

Courtland 200 

Cuba  . .  250 


vols. 

Chase 105 

Cheney 300 

Cedarville 100 

Con  way  Springs 60 

Clifton 200 

Chelsea 500 

Douglass 300 

Dighton 300 

Downs 250 

Delphos 177 

Elsmore 100 

Ellinwood 15 

Everest 360 

Elmdale 50 

Enterprise 200 

Eudora 344 

Elk  Falls 100 

Ellis 150 

Edgerton 50 

Elk  City 300 

Erie 300 

Eskridge 120 

Edwardsville 2,100 

Fulton 100 

Frontenac 100 

Fall  River 200 

Florence 500 

Frankfort 500 

Fredonia 500 

Greeley 30 

Glasco 200 

Gardner 250 

Galva 100 

Glen  Elder 300 

Goffs 100 

Greensburg 100 

Geneseo 130 

Gaylord 150 

Greenleaf 200 

Humboldt 500 

Hoisington 20 

Hamlin 230 

Hepler 50 

Herington 1,200 

Hope 225 


Scbool  libraries. 


101 


CITIES   OF   THE  THIRD   CLASS. 


vols. 

Highland 200 

Howard 1,000 

Hays 300 

Hill  City 40 

Halstead 492 

Healy 12 

Havensville 400 

Hoxie 50 

Haddam 40 

Hanover 200 

Hollenberg 60 

Irving 300 

Inman 314 

Jamestown 60 

Jewell  City 650 

Kincaid 170 

Kiowa 400 

Kinsley 300 

Kanopolis 50 

Kirwin 200 

Leon 200 

Lebo 300 

Le  Roy 300 

Lecompton 36 

Longton 200 

Linwood 150 

Lincoln 450 

La  Cygne 484 

Lindsborg 524 

Lorraine 50 

Louisburg 20 

Liberty 100 

Lenora 300 

Lyndon 250 

Louisville 200 

Little  River 125 

Leonardville . .  199 

La  Crosse 75 

Lucas 75 

Luray 50 

Lebanon 75 

Linn 30 

Muscotah 465 

Medicine  Lodge 450 

Morrill..  300 


vols. 

Morganville 100 

McCune , 65 

Midway 50 

Moline 500 

McLouth 200 

Mankato 225 

Mound  Valley 50 

Mound  City 75 

Marquotte 400 

Moundridge 350 

Melvern 120 

Mount  Hope 200 

Mulvane 300 

Mayfield 50 

Maple  Hill 150 

Mahaska 35 

Netawaka 90 

Nortonville 125 

Ness  City 775 

Norton 1,000 

Nickerson 300 

Neodesha 300 

New  Albany 80 

Neosho  Falls 300 

Oberlin 150 

Oskaloosa 100 

Oketo 257 

Oneida 100 

Onaga 100 

Oxford 200 

Pomona 100 

Princeton 200 

Perry 25 

Parker 50 

Pleasanton 150 

Prescott 50 

Peabody 450 

Pratt 196 

Plainville 75 

Palmer 25 

Reserve 300 

Robinson 400 

Richmond 700 

Reading 250 

Roxbury 145 


102 


Scbool  libraries* 


CITIES   OF  THE  THIRD   CLASS. 


vols. 

Republic 150 

Raymond 117 

Randolph 300 

Riley 230 

Russell 350 

Rossville 838 

Savonburg 30 

Strong  City 130 

Sedan 500 

St.  Francis 75 

Solomon 600 

Severance 273 

Severy 52 

Syracuse 300 

Sedgwick 1,000 

Soldier 100 

Springhill 300 

Summerneld 100 

St.  Paul 150 

Scranton 400 

St.  Mary's 300 

Scandia 250 

Sterling 1,200 

Stockton 100 

Scott  City 44 

Smith  Center 200 

Stafford 60 

St.  John  . .  150 


vols. 

Troy 500 

Tonganoxie 60 

Thayer 150 

Tescott 40 

Turon 150 

Toronto 100 

Udall 40 

Valley  Falls 450 

Whitewater 150 

Wakefield 150 

Walnut 380 

Wathena 23 

White  Cloud 560 

Wilson 125 

Wellsville 50 

Williamsburg 250 

Walton 50 

Whiting 150 

Winchester 100 

Waterville 400 

Wetmore 456 

Wamego 600 

Westmoreland 100 

WaKeeney 200 

Washington 400 

Yale 50 

Yates  Center  . .  500 


IRecent  (Sifts*  103 


RECENT  GIFTS  TO  KANSAS  LIBRARIES. 


The  most  notable  gifts  to  Kansas  libraries  in  the  last  two 
or  three  years  have  been  from  Mr.  Andrew  Carnegie.  His 
gifts  for  free  public  library  buildings  have  been  made  with 
the  usual  condition,  that  the  cities  pledge  ten  per  cent,  of 
the  net  amount  of  the  gift  for  annual  maintenance.  The 
exception  to  this  almost  invariable  rule  was  in  the  case  of 
the  Anderson  Memorial  Library,  College  of  Emporia.  This 
building  Mr.  Carnegie  erected  without  conditions,  as  a  me- 
morial to  Col.  John  B.  Anderson,  his  early  patron  and  friend. 
The  author  of  Triumphant  Democracy  said,  at  the  opening 
of  one  of  these  institutions  some  years  ago : 

"My  own  personal  experience  may  have  led  me  to  value 
a  free  library  beyond  all  other  forms  of  beneficence.  When 
I  was  a  boy  in  Pittsburg,  Colonel  Anderson,  of  Allegheny 
—a  name  I  can  never  speak  without  feelings  of  devotional 
gratitude — opened  his  little  library  of  400  books  to  boys. 
Every  Saturday  afternoon  he  was  himself  in  attendance  at 
his  house  to  exchange  books.  No  one  but  him  who  has 
felt  it  can  know  the  intense  longing  with  which  the  arrival 
of  Saturday  was  awaited,  that  a  new  book  might  be  had. 
My  brother  and  Mr.  Phipps,  who  have  been  my  principal 
business  partners  through  life,  shared  with  me  Colonel  An- 
derson's precious  generosity,  and  it  was  when  reveling  in 
these  treasures  that  I  resolved,  if  ever  wealth  came  to  me, 
that  it  should  be  used  to  establish  free  libraries  that  other 
poor  boys  might  receive  opportunities  similar  to  those  for 
which  we  were  indebted  to  that  noble  man." 

Col.  John  B.  Anderson  was,  in  later  years,  a  resident  of 
Manhattan.  His  library  of  5000  volumes  is  now  in  the  An- 
derson Memorial  Library. 

In  1899,  Mr.  Carnegie  gave  $500  to  the  Blue  Rapids  Li- 
brary for  the  purchase  of  books.  Mr.  Carnegie's  gifts 
for  the  erection  of  library  buildings  in  the  state  have  been 
as  follows : 

Leavenworth  Free  Public  Library,  $30,000. 

Emporia  Free  Public  Library,  $20,000. 

Anderson  Memorial  Library,  $30,000. 


104 IRecent  gifts, 

Ottawa  Free  Public  Library,  $15,000. 

Lawrence  Free  Public  Library,  $25,000. 

Hutchinson  Free  Public  Library,  $15,000. 

Winfield  Free  Public  Library,  $15,000. 

Fort  Scott  Free  Public  Library,  $15,000. 

Kansas  City  Free  Public  Library,  $75,000. 

Manhattan  Free  Public  Library,  $10,000. 

Newton  Free  Public  Library,  $15,000. 

Salina  Free  Public  Library,  $15,000. 

In  1902,  Mrs.  Martha  Smith,  of  Paola,  died,  leaving 
property  valued  at  $10,000  for  the  erection  of  a  public  li- 
brary building. 

Judge  Nelson  Case,  of  Oswego,  has  given  $6000  to 
Baker  University  for  a  library  building  fund. 

Mr.  W.  G,  Hoover,  of  Chetopa,  has  given  $1500  to  the 
library  building  fund  of  Baker  University. 

Miss  Helen  Gould  has  given  several  thousand  books  to 
various  Y.  M.  C.  A.  reading-rooms. 

Bethany  College,  Lindsborg,  has  received  gifts  of  valu- 
able books,  amounting  to  2000  in  number. 

Mr.  Pomeroy  gave  to  the  Atchison  Public  Library,  in 
1899,  a  piece  of  statuary. 

The  Commercial  Club  of  Abilene  gave  $200  to  the  new 
public  library. 

Mr.  C.  Q.  Chandler  gave  $100  to  the  Medicine  Lodge 
library. 

Mr.  Edward  Wilder,  in  1901,  made  a  permanent  loan  of 
his  large  collection  of  specimens  of  European  ceramic  and 
vitrio  art,  and  his  collection  of  about  800  photographs  of 
European  churches,  monuments  and  paintings,  to  the  To- 
peka  Public  Library. 

In  addition  to  its  other  special  book  funds,  the  Topeka 
Public  Library  received,  in  1902,  the  Mulvane  memorial 
fund  of  $1800. 

The  Traveling  Libraries  Commission  has  received  many 
gifts  from  clubs  and  individuals,  the  largest  single  gift  be- 
ing from  Mrs.  Chas.  Robinson,  of  Lawrence,  which  con- 
sisted of  250  books. 

The  Lawrence  Public  Library,  1902,  received,  in  addi- 


IRecent  (gifts, 105 

tion  to  the  gift  of  Mr.  Carnegie,  a  gift  from  Mrs.  Chas.  P. 
Grovenor  of  the  site  for  the  new  building,  valued  at  $2500. 

Mrs.  Preston  B.  Plumb  gave  the  site  for  the  new  public 
library  at  Emporia. 

In  1902,  the  Hon.  George  W.  Martin,  of  Topeka,  gave 
his  fine  collection  of  Kansas  books,  711  volumes,  to  the 
Anderson  Memorial  Library,  Emporia. 

Washburn  College  has  received  recently  from  Col.  T.  W. 
Harrison  his  excellent  law  library,  valued  at  $4000,  and  in 
1901  received  800  volumes  from  the  library  of  John  Davis, 
of  Junction  City. 

At  the  University  of  Kansas,  the  Kappa  Alpha  Theta 
Fraternity  gave  $500  to  the  library,  June,  1903. 


PAGE 

Abilene 11 

Atchison 13 

Baldwin 18 

Blue  Rapids 19 

Burlington 20 

Cawker  City 21 

Chanute 21 

Chapman 22 

Concordia 22 

Delphos 23 

Emporia 25 

Fort  Leavenworth 53 

Fort  Riley 30 

Galena 31 

Girard 32 

Halstead 33 

Hiawatha 34 

Horton 36 

Hutchinson 37 

Independence 39 

Junction  City 40 

Kansas  City 40 

Lawrence 41 

Leavenworth 50 

Lindsborg 53 

McPherson 55 

Manhattan 56 

Marquette 60 

Medicine  Lodge 60 

Minneapolis 61 

Newton 62 

Norton 65 

Osawatomie 65 

Oswego 67 

Ottawa 67 

Paola 69 

Parsons 72 

Peabody 74 

Pittsburg 75 

Plainville 76 

(107) 


108  flnfcer. 


PAGE 

Russell 77 

St.  Mary's 78 

Salina 79 

Smith  Center 80 

Tonganoxie 81 

Topeka 81 

Troy 93 

Weir 94 

Wellington 95 

Wichita 95 

Winfield..  97 


List  of  Kansas  School  Libraries 99 

Preface 5 

Recent  Gifts  to  Kansas  Libraries 103 

Y.  M.  C.  A.  Reading-rooms 98 

ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Anderson  Memorial  Library,  College  of  Emporia opposite  24 

Baker  University  Library,  Baldwin 16 

Boswell  Library,  Washburn  College,  Topeka 72 

Hutchinson  Free  Public  Library 36 

Kansas  City  Free  Public  Library 40 

Kansas  State  Capitol,  Topeka 88 

Ladies'  Public  Library,  Blue  Rapids 20 

Leavenworth  Free  Public  Library 48 

Ottawa  Free  Public  Library 68 

Salina  Free  Public  Library 104 

Spooner  Library,  University  of  Kansas,  Lawrence 9 

State  Agricultural  College  Library  (two  views),  Manhattan. .  56,  60 

State  Normal  School  Library,  Emporia 28 

State  Historical  Society  Newspaper  Room 96 

State  Historical  Society  Picture  Gallery 32 

Topeka  Free  Public  Library 80 


14  DAY  USE 

RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 

LIBRARY  SCHOOL  LIBRARY 

This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below,  or 

on  the  date  to  which  renewed. 
Renewed  books  are  subject  to  immediate  recall. 


DEC  1  7  1959 

JUL*'*" 

General  Library 
LD  21-50m-8,'57                                  University  of  California 

(.C8481slO)476                                                   Berkeley 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


